Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-12
Refuses 10 Trust Good Faith
of Any Promise Made by
Germany Unless Guaranteed
by United States.
SEVERE INDICTMENTS OF
KAISER'S GOVERNMENT
Claims Laws of War Are Con-
tinuaIIy Violated Charges
Inhuman Conduct by En-
emieS of ENGLAND.
Iuy aosHlHo louon,l srralAl l5Asro usrI

LONDON, March II 60 2G y. M --
The British reply to the American
nete suggesting that Great Britain al
low AN foodstuffs to enter Germany
I'm return for Germanys abandon
ment of her submarine warfare ON
merchant vessels and her policy of
mining the high seas is expected TO
be forthcoming AT an early date.
While the contents Of the reply are
naturally not known, It is possible as
the result Of the inquiries in authorl-
tative quarters to indicate some
points likely TO carry weight with the
British government and 10 emphasize
Sir Edward Grey's reply.
There is a strong feeling I'm Down
ing street that the quid pro quo put
forward in the American note does
rot go far enough. Officials of the
foreign office point out that since the
opening Of the war Great Britain has
only once interfered with the supply
of food destined for Germany. and
then only after the German govern
ment ly assuming control Of an food
stuffs, had abolished the old distinc-
tion between the civil and the mill
tary population.
Cannot Draw Distinction.
Hign German authorities nave re-
peatedly denied the British claim TO
cut off supplies of food from civilians
is legitimate act OF war Great Brit
ain, it is insisted. never adopted tins
view until the Germans by their own
act made it impossible any longer 10
draw the line between non-combat-
m f.. a h.t
IL is added. t,reat Britain is now in-
viteG by the United States to forcgo
a clear belligerent right on the un-
derstanding that Germany Will 1h-
stain from committing two-but only
two-Of many crimes against both
law and humanity. Authoritative
spokesmen of the British view lay
stress on the "inadequacy of this pro-
posal from two standpoints They
ask, first. what guarantee is forth
coming that Germany viii keep 10
her agreement. Supposing they urge
that an understanding were reached
en- the lines suggested by the Unitei
states, would the United States secure
its strict Observance.
viii Not Trust Germany
II is asserted by them that Ger
many has violated so many cOmpacts
and conventions in this war that Brit
ish statesmen are disincliued TO trust
her unsupported word.
Secondly, they urge that the two
offenses specified in the American
submarine warfare on mer-
chant vessels and the mining of the
high seas-are far from being the
only, or even the worst, olfenses Of
which Germany has been guilty The
claim is set up that she has lombard
ed unfortfed towns. dropped bombs
on places inhabited solely by civilians
and sunk both British and neutral
ships as If that were the ordinary le-
gal way 1f dsposing of them.
other Indictments
Great Britain, it is pointed out, has
in none Of these practices
ana such mines as she is compelled IN
to lay have been laid in
strict accordance with The Hague
The policy Of the Germans, which
lrouses the most indignation among
the directors Of the British govern
ment is the continued alleged perse-
,ution Of the Belgians, millions of
whom, it is declared would be at
his moment in a state of semi-starya-
lion, but for American generosity ana 7
assistance"
Kaiser Must Change Policy
The view, therefore, held In the !
most authoritative quarter Of Great (
Britain is that if there bc any ques-
ion Of Germany's conforming 10 the 7
rules of civilized warfare with respect /
% an points and not merely with re-
'pect to two Of them, which she has
been accused Of departing from, it
must come up for discussion and that I
Great Britain could enter into no
agreement on the subject which did
not include p radical change i'm Ger
present proceedings i'm Bel
gium.
Finally It is declared by the same
authority that, these being the factors
hat mainly influence British official
opinion, Il may be inferred that the
natural SYM by OF the British gov
srnment wit the American suggcs-
ion. both O ts merits and from its
source of or an, must 70 some extent /
le mitigated 9y other and wiser con-