Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-02
RIGHT TO CHANGE RULES
OF WARFARE QUESTIONED
No Violation of Neutrality, He
Holds, in Continuing to Send
Ships to German Ports. I
POLICY NOT TO BE CHANGED
Administration Will Keep Up It's
Efforts to Have Belligerents Re
spect American Non-Contra-
band Shipping.

The United States will send a
note to Great Britain and France.
in answer to the one received yes
terday, inquiring what means will
be taken in carrying out the
policy of holding up supplies be
ing carried to and from Germany.
President Wilson told callers
today that the British French
note outlined in very general
terms policy, but did not define
the means of carrying it into ef-
feet.
Rules of Warfare Fixed.
President Wilson refused to discuss
the subject in detail. but said that no
nation has the right to change the
rules of warfare because the methods
OF war have changed He indicated
that the United States will not change
continue to make efforts to have the bel
ligerents respect American shipping Of q
non-contraband character
The President said 1t was not clear
in his own mind whether the new 40.
ton of the British and French govern.
ments established a blockade OF Ger
many. although that would be the gen.
eral effect of the order.
Is Studying Joint Note.
He indicated that even though a real
blockade were established. no questions
affecting the neutrality of the United
States would be precipitated by the con-
tinued voyages of American ships 10
Germany.
warning. he suggested, merely took the
usual war risks Of capture and legal
proceedings
The President added that he had not
had opportunity as yet to digest thorough
ly the contents of the communication from
Great Britain and France but that the
question was under serious consideration.
He reiterated that he was still uncer-
tain whether he would be able to follow
cisco exposition this month. and that Was
taken as another indication that the
European situation was considered OF
such Importance as to keep the President
N Washington
Discussed by the Cabinet.
The joint note was discussed At
length by the President and the cab
met. The disposition was to stand
,~t1 ;el,
American shipping.
No formal protest will be made il
was understood, until the American
government has been clearly informed
about the methods to be pursued III en-
forcing the plan of France and Great
Britain.
Holland to Follow United States.
The minister from the Netherlands in
uuired at the State Department what re-
ply the United States Intended to make.
He desired to send word to his govern
ment, and the opinion was expressed thai
the Netherlands. along with other ncu-
trails, would send representations similar
to those which this country might make
No indications were given as to just when
a reply might be sent, but the general
belief was that it would not be delayed
long.
Senator Simmons of North Carolina, q
White House caller today, said that the
ern cotton growers, but would have more
serious effects on cotton mills That, hA
said. was due to the fact that most mills
use German dyes. and the supply on hand
in this country was very small.
Official Notice of Drastic Step.
Identical notes presented by the
French and British ambassador. here
yesterday informed the United states
government of this drastic step by TIL.
allies in reply to Germany's war zone
proclamation.
If this policy is enforced it no longer
will be possible to ship cotton. manu-
factured articles and commodities
hitherto of -contraband char
acter from the United States to Ger
many, directly or indirectly. and from
the latter country the supply of dye
stuffs and other merchandise for co@-
sumption in this country will be cut
off.
In the reprisals which the belIigercnts
were making toward each other ti. :
was a singular forgetfulness of the
fact that whatever might be the ,Ion.-
tions of international customs AZ hc-
tween those countries at war. tbs
could not affect the status of interua-
tional rules as between the United
states and countries with which the
American government was at peace.
Assurances given by Great Britain
that this note was not a reply to the
recent proposals of the United States
for an adjustment of the entire sit
IA ton which led to the retaliatory
measures gave ground for some hopes
that the measures taken might be only
Of a temporary character.
Department Issues Statement.
In this connection. the State Depart
nent issued the following statement:
The British ambassador has present
q the following instructions from his
when presenting joint Angle
French communication you shesl1 IN