The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-18
SIX NOTES ARE
MADE PUBLIC
STATE DEPARTMENT GIVES OUT
ALL CORRESPONDENCE OF
LAST SIX WEEKS.
Cover German and English eloeksdes
and the Views Of the United
States.

WASHINGTON. March lT-six dip
lomatic notes were made public to
night by the state department. eonsti
tuting the entire correspondence of
the last few weeks between the
United States and Germany. and be.
tween the United States and Great
Britain and France. relative to the
abandonment OF submarine attacks on
merchant ships. the shipment OF con
ditioual contraband and foodstuffs 10
civilians In a belligerent country. the
use OF neutral flags by belligerent mer-
ohdntment. the removal OF mines. and
the proclamation OF a virtual blockade
by the allies against Germany.
The communications repealed that
the United States government. really
ing the difficulties of maintaining an
effective blockade by close guard OF
an enemy coast on account of the
newly developed activity OF submar-
ines. asked that a radius Of activity
be defined. Great Britain and France
. replied with the announcement that
the operations OF blockade would not
be conducted outside of European
waters, including the Mediterranean. "
While Germany agreed. IL Is disclos-
ed. to abandon her submarine attacks
on mercantile OF any flag" except
when they resist visit OF search. pro-
vided foodstufs were permitted to
reach her civilian population. Great
Britain and her allies rejected the
proposal. originally made by the
United States government in an effort
to bring the belligerents into an ar
rangement which would safeguard the
interests of neutrals.
Furthermore. the documents show
that In a message of inquiry TO Great
Britain and France. the United States
asked whether the embargo on all
commerce between Germany and neu-
trail countries was to be carried out
under the rules OF a blockade or by
interference with ships and cargoes
"as II no blockade existed" the two
American government a proposed
course OF action previously unknown
TO International law"
Regard u Blockade.
The answers from both Great Brit
ain and France reveal for the hrst
time that the allier officially regard
their policy as a blockade" but de-
sire to refrain from exercising the
rights OF belligerents under a block
ade TO confscate ships and cargoes
as a penalty for breach of blockade.
substituting for Il procedure in prize
courts and compensation through sale
OF the detained merchandise.
The definition OF a radius OF &C
tiVity" for the allied fleet In European
waters, including the Mediterranean,
is the first intimation OF the geogra-
phical limits OF the blockade. It's
limits were not given more exactly.
the allies claim. because Germany was
equally indefinite in proclaiming all
tho waters surrounding Great Britain
and Ireland a war zone"
The restriction OF the area OF opera
tions OF the blockade to European
waters followed his observation by
the United States 10 both Great Brit
ain and France:
while Shis government Il fully
alive to the possibility that the
methods of modern naval warfare. par
ticularly ia the use Of the usbmarine
for both defensive and offensive op-
eratlOns. may make m efOrmer means
Of maintaining a blockade a physical
impOssibility. IL feels that II can be
urged with great force that should
be also some limit to the radius OF
activity. and especially so II this ac-
ton by the belliEerents can be con
strued 20 be a blockade. 70 would
certainly create n serious state Of ar
fairs II. for example. an American
vessel laden with a cargo 81 German
origin should escape the British pa
troll I'm European waters only to be
held up by cruiser off New York
and taken into Halifax"
VIII Make Protest
The publication Of the correspond.
ence cleans the slate Of diplomatic
notes. and leaves the United States
confronted with the question OF
whether or not De- viii acquisce in the
form of blockade announced by the
allies or make protest. President
Wilson himself has indicated that a
stronE protest will be- made and Off
cials already are gathering material
fot o.
The notes record the failure Of the
United States % bring the belllRer-
cnts into an agreement on the use Of
submarines and mines. the fixing Of
definite rule governing shipments
OF conditional oontrabrand to the civ
ilian population Of n bellirorent. and
the abandonment ~ neutral flags a.
ruse Of war
Officials admitted being somewhat
puzzled over tho British rejection ~
the proposals made by the United
states in this connection They Oh.
served statement I'm the British
reply To Che American note which I4
NOT borne out bv comparison with tho
German note The British reply. 70
fusing 90 enter into the agreement.
says ln reference 90 tho American
Communication
The reply ~ the German govern
ment 20 this 49, mas be.n published
and % ls not understood from the re-
ply that the German government are
prepared io abandon Tho practice ~
sinking British merchant vessels by
submarines"
What Germany SAID
What Germany said Officially vas
81 follows
The government would UNDERTAKE
49, 70 uaa their auhmarInoa 10 affaFF