The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-10
TEXT GIVEN OUT
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES full
REPLY OF The GERMANS
QUESTIONS ANSWERED

| UUESIlUNS ANSWtkED
Conforms In Main Details to Early
Summary Already Published
Government Appears to be Ready
to Aid in Ameiorating Conditions
Dangerous to NeutraIs.
The Official text of Germany's re-
ply to the American note suggesting
that Germany and Great Britain
agree on a plan to lessen danger to
neutral shipping in the war zone was
made pubic at Washington Thurs
day. It follows:
1.-The Imperial German government
has taken note with greatest interest
of the suggestion Of the American
government for certain principles for
the conduct of maritime war en- 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 government toward
| the German government, which are
fully reciprocated by Germany.
."It is in accordance with Ger
many's wishes also to have maritime
war conducted according to rules
which without Discriminatory restrict
ing one or the other of the belliger-
ent powers in the use of their means
of warfare ara equally considerate OF
I the interests Of neutrals and the die
tates of humanity. Consequently 1t
was intimated in the German note OF
the 18th instant that observation OF
the declaration Of London in the part
Of Germany'S adversaries would Gre
ate a new situatiin from which the
German government would gladly
draw the proper conclusions.
proceeding from this view the
German government has carefully eX-
amined the suggestion Of the Ameri-
can government and believe that they
can actually see in it suitable basis
for the practical solution Of the ques-
tions which have arisen.
with regard to the various points
Of the American note they beg to
make the following remarks:
First. With regard to the SOW
ing of mines the German government
would be willing to agree as suggest
ed not to use floating mines and to
have anchored mines constructed as
indicated. Moreover, they agree to
put the stamp of the government on
all mines to be planted. On the
other hand, it does not appear to
them to be feasible the belliger-
ents wholly to forego the use of an
chored mines for offensive purposes.
Second. The German government
would undertake not to use their SUBJ
marines to attack mercantile vessels
of any flag except when necessary to
enforce the right of visit and search.
Should the enemy nationality of the
vessel or the presence Of contraband
be ascertained submarines would pro-
ceed in accordance with the general
rules of international law.
Third. AS provided in the Ameri-
can note this restriction of the use Of
the submarines is contingent on the
fact that enemy mercantile ships ab-
stain from the use Of the neutral flag
and other neutral distinctive marks.
1t would appear to be matter of
course that such mercantile vessels
also abstain from arming themselves
and from all resistance by force, since
such procedure contrary to interns-
tional law would render impossible
any action of the submarines in &C
cordance with international law.
Fourth. The regulation of legiti-
mate importations Of food into Ger
many suggested by the American gov
ernment appears to be in general &C
ceptable. Such regulation would, OF
course, be confined to importations
by sea, but this would, on the other
hand, include indirect importations
by way of neutral ports.
"The German government would,
! therefore, oe willing to make declara-
tions of the nature provided in the
| American note so that the use Of the
imported food and foodstuffs solely
by the non-combatant population
would be guaranteed. The Imperial
government must, however, in addi-
ton, emphasize having the importa-
ton Of other raw material used by
the economic system Of non-combat-
ants, including forage, permitted. To
| that end the enemy governments
would have to permit the free entry
into Germany Of the raw material
mentioned in the free list Of the dec
laration Of London and to treat mate
rials included in the list of condition
al contraband according to the same
principles as food and foodstuffs:
"The German government ventures
to hope that the agreement for which
the American government have paved
the way may be reached after DUE
consideration of the remarks made
above and this way peaceable neutra
shipping and trade will not have tt
suffer any more than is absolutely
necessary from the unavoidable ef
fects of maritime war. These effect:
could be still further reduced, if, a:
was pointed out in the German nott
of the 18th instant, some way coulc
be found to exclude the shipping o
munitions of war from neutral coun
tries to belligerents on ships Of any
nationality.
"The German government must, o.
course, reserve a definite statemen
Of their position until such time a.
they may receive further information
from the American government enao
ling them to see what obligations thu
British government are on their par
willing to assume"
Safe Passage for Ships.