Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-19
TEXT OF GERMAN ANSWER
Kaiser Refuses to Modify War Zone
Decree and Warns Neutrsls on
Carrying Contraband.
SUGGESTS ESCORT OF wARsH1Ps


BERLIN Cvia London. Feb. 1S-The
text OF the German governments reply
TO the American note follows:
The imperial government has examined
the communication from the United
states government in the same spirit OF
good will and friendship by which the
communication appears to have been die
tated The imperial government is In &C
cord with the United states government
that for both parties it is in high de-
gree desirable to avoid misunderstandinEs
which might arise from measures an
nounced by the German admiralty and to
provide against the occurrence of Incl
dents which might trouble the friendly
relations which so far happily exist be
tween the two governments.
with regard to the assuring Of these
friendly relations the German government
believes that it may all the more reckon
ON a full understanding with the United
states as the procedure announced by the
German admiralty which was fully ex-
planned in the note OF February 4, il in
no way directed against legitimate COM
merce and legitimate shipping OF neu-
trails. but represents solely measure of
vital interests against England's method
of warfare, which is contrary TO interna-
tional law and which so far no protest by
neutrals has succeeded I'm bringing back
to the generally recognized principles OF
law as existing before the outbreak OF
war.
Obeys Rules of Sea Warfare.
I'm order to exclude all doubt regarding
eminent once more begs leave to state
how things stand. Until now Germany
mas scrupulousy observed valid interna-
tional rules regarding naval warfare. At
the very beginning of the war Germany
Immediately agreed to the proposal OF the
American government to ratfy the new
declaration Of London and took over its
contents unaltered and without formal
obligation into its prize law.
THE German government has obeyed
these rules even when they Numerically
We're opposed to its military interests
For instance. Germany allowed the
transportation Of provisions to England
from Denmark until today though 1t was
well able, by its sea forces, to prevent It,
In contradistinction to this attitude, Eng
land has not even hesitated at a second
such means it could paralyze the peaceful
commerce OF Germany with neutrals. The
German government will be the less
obliged to enter into details, as these are
put down sufficiently, though not OK
haustively. in the American note to the
British government dated December 70, as
result of five months experience.
"All these encroachments have been
made as has been admitted in order to
cut off all supplies from Germany and
thereby starve its peaceful civil popua-
tion-a procedure contrary to all human
ltarian principles. Neutrals have been
| unable to prevent the interruption of
their commerce with Germany. which is
contrary to International laws
1.-THE American government as Ger
many readily acknowledges. has protested
against the British procedure. In spite
of these protests and protests from other
neutral states, Great Britain could not
| be induced to depart from the course of
action 1t had decided upon. Thus, for
instance, the American ship Wilhelmina
recently was stopped by the British, al
though its cargo was destined solely for
the German civil population and accord
| German government was to be employed
| only for this purpose.
Germany is as good as cut off from
its overseas supply by the silent or pro-
| testing liberation of neutrals, not only
in regard to such goods as are absolute
contraband, but also in regard to such
az according to acknowledged law be-
fore the war, are only conditional contra
band or not contraband at all. Great
Britain. on the other hand is with the
liberation of neutral governments, not
only supplied with such goods as are
not contraband or only conditional con-
traband, but with goods which are re-
Sarded by Great Britain il sent to Ger
many, as absolute contraband, namely,
provisions, industrial raw materials. etc,
and even with goods which have always
been regarded as absolute contra band.
Traffic In Arms COntraba
THE German government feels istself
! obliged to point out with the greatest
emphasis that a traffic in arms esti-
mated at many hundreds OF millions IS
/ being carried on between American firms
and Germany's enemies. Germany fully
comprehends that the practice of right
and the liberation of wrong on the part
Of neutrals are matters absolutely at the
discretion OF neutrals, and involve no
| formal violation OF neutrality. Germany
| therefore did not complain of any formal
violation OF neutrality, but the Ger
man government, in view OF complete
evidence before Il. cannot help pointing
out that It, together with the entire pub
lie opinion of Germany, feels itself to be
! severely prejudiced by the fact that
neutrals, in safeguarding their rights in
legitimate commerce with Germany, ac-
cording to international law, have up to
the present achieved no. or only insig-
nificent results, while they are making
unlimited use of their right by carrying
on contraband traffic with Great Britain
and our other enemies.
IF 1t Is a formal right of neutrals to
take no steps to protect their legitimate
| trade with Germany and even to allow
| themselves to be influenced In the di-
| rection Of the conscious and wilful re-
stricton of their trade. on the other hand
we have the perfect right which they
unfortunately do not exercise, TO cease
contraband trade, especially in arms,
| nil