The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-18
TIE RIcrvnNn NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., MARCH IS,

neutral RICH. established by the prin-
Cipies of international law. but WOULD
consider the agreement IL acceptable
% ~" Interested powers a modus
vivendi based on expediency rather
+, han .eaal righland association bind
Ing upon the United States either in
its present form or in a modified form
until accepted by this government.
tSigned) BRYAN.
Germany's Reply.
Number III. Germany's reply to the
joint suggestions ST the United States,
accepting conditionally most OF the
American suggestions.
The American ambassador at BeT-
lin to the Secretary of State.
(Telegram)
American embassy
Berlin. March I. 1915.
Following is translation of German
reply:
The undersigned has the honor to
inform His Fxcel'ency. Mr. James W
Gerard. ambassador of the United
states OF America in reply to the note
of the 22nd instant that the imperial
German government have taken note
VITA great interest of the suggestion
of the American government that
certain principles for the conduct of
maritime wa- on the part of Germany
and England be agreed upon for the
protection OF neutral shipping. They
see therein new evidence of the
friendly feelings of the American gov
eminent toward the German govern
mert which are fully reciprocated By
Germany
L. is IN accordance with Germany
wishes also to have maritime war
n.
without discrimira.elv restricting one
or the other OF the belligerent posw>rs
In the use of their means of warfare.
are equally considerable Of the interests
OF neutrals and the dictates of human
ity. Consequently II was fnttmated
IN me German note OF the 18th IN
slant that observation of the declara-
ton OF London on the part OF Ger
rnany's adversartes would create
rev situation from which the German
government would gladly draw the
proper conclusions.
Proceeding from this view the GER
man government have carefully exam
ined the suggestion Of the American
government and believe that they can
actually see In II suitable basis Tor
the practical solution of the question
which have arisen.
GeYmauy's Proposals.
with regard to the various points
Of the American note they beg to make
the following remarks'
I. with regard to the sowing OF
mines the German government would
be willing to agree as suggested. not
to use floating mines and to have an
chored mines constructed as indicated.
Moreover. they agree to put the stamp
Of the government on all mines to be
planted. On the other hand. II does not
appear to them to be feasible for the
befligerents wholly to forego the use
of anchored mines for offensive pur-
poses
2. The German government would I'm
dertake not to use their submarines TO
attack mercantile of any flag except
when necessary to enforce the right or
visit and search. Should the enemy
nationality of the vessel, or the pres
ence of contrahand. be ascertained,
submarines would proceed In accor-
dance with the general rules of inter-
national Law:
Q. As provided in the American note
this restriction of the use of the sub
marines Ia contingent on the face that
enemy mercantile abstain from the use
of neutral flag, and other neutral dis
tinctive marks. 1t would appear to be
a matter of course that such mercan-
tile also abstain from arming them
selves. and from all resistance by force
since such procedure contrary TO In
ternational law would render impos-
sible any action of the submarine In
accordance with international law.
I. The regulation of legitimate Inn .
portations OF food into Germany suH
gested by the American government ap-
pears to be in general acceptable. Such
regulation would. of course. be confined
20 importations by way of neutral
ports. The German government would.
therefore. be willing to make the de-
clarations OF the nature provided in
the American note SO that the use OF
the imported food and foodstuffs solely
by the noncombatant population would
be guaranteed. The imperial govern
ment must. however. in addition having
the Importation of other raw material
used by the economic system of nom
combatants. including forage. permitted
To that end the enemy governments
would have to permit the free list entry
into Germany OF the raw material nen-
toned In the free list of the decihra-
ton OF London. and to treat materials
included in the HIST of conditional con-
traband according to the same prin-
eiples as food and foodstufis.
Hopes Agreement May Be Reached.
The German Government ventures
to hope that the agreement for which
the American Government has paved
the way may be reached after due
consideration OF the remarks In the
above and that in this way peaceable
neutral shipping and trade will not
have to suffer any more than IL abb
solutely necessary from the unavoid-
able effects OF maritime war These
effects would be still further reduced
II. as was pointed out In the German
note Of the 18th instant, soma way
could be found to exclude the shipping
Of munitions Of war from neutral
countries to belligerents on ships of
any nationality.
The German Government must, Of
course. reserve q definite statement OF
their position until such time az they
may receive further information from
the American Government enabling
them to see what obligations the Brit
ish Government are, on their part,
willing to assume.
The undersigned avails himself OF
HIS occasion, etc
(Signed) Won JAGOw.
Dated Foreign once, Berlin, Feb.
2s. 1915.
Great Britain's Reply.
Number III-Great Britain's reply
to the joint suggestions: The British
Government accepts none Of the sug-
gestions, reitera&thg its charges Of un-