The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-16
srDNSTORFF SEES BRYAN
o.rio Wiling For American
'' Officials To See That Food
ShiOued Would Not Be
Seized By The Army Says
Starvation Campaign as Bad
Is War On Merchant Ships
,ev the Associated Press,

.pe the Associated Prcss.l !
a-h,oton u. c.. Feb. 13.-The 81,
,..or,ance the German government t
".aobee 10 the unrestricted shipment A,
+ foodstuffs for its civilian population
uos emphasized at the state Depart
.,or, today by Count Won BcrnstorH,
,ba German ambassador, Who confer
POD with both secretary Bryan ana
rounsellor Lansing. While no for:nal
statement regarding the ambassadors
coll vas issued by the department, 1t
zoe said afterward that ne lad limited
,bat warfare on merCnan, shipping
might be relaxed if Germany could
he assured of a continuous food supply
for her nou-cOmbatantS population.
Tine position of the German govern
rent il was explained, is that the
nrocIamation Of a war zone and cam
naign against enemy merchant ships
gas simply a retaliation against Eng
lands alleged violations OF the Dec
hration Of London in hindering con-
ditienal contraband destined for civ
Iians from reaching Germany. This.
according 20 the German ambassa-
dor is no less inhumane than the
campaign on merchant NeSSelS.
While declining to authorize any
statement. officials admitted that the
American note to Germany was open
10 the construction n a no vessels.
either belligerent or neutral, should
be sunk unless previously visited and
an opportunity given for the taking
off of passengers. 1t was reiterated
that while the rules of international
law clearly compelled such steps, the
position taken was based largely on
humanitarian grounds.
Not Intended As Threat.
An official who helped prepare the
American note to Germany, pointed
out that the strong warning tone OF
The communication was not intended
eS a threat, but was a friendly act in
o spirit Of ~precaution lest the sinking
Of an American vessel with Americans
aboard inhame public opinion in the
United States TO a degree which could
not be estimated in advance.
The German ambassador, it is I'M
cerstood, did not discuss his govern
mentS intentions IN connection will
the announced campaign IN merchan
SHIPS, but confined himself to explain
ing the German point of view on con
dulonai contraband. He holds tia
the United states in contending TO
d strict observance Of the rights o
n~eutrals, should interest itself in see
ing that conditional contraband is no
heid up on the high seas. The rule
OF International law even previous t
Tue Declaration OF London, the Ger
man ambassador was understood t
nav pointed out, require proof the
tne afllcles are destined to belligerer
forces. He said the German govern
HFIl nIn 81 X~aY nee -nAr ODD ole
nda modified its DEGREES so that in
ported foodstuffs woul6 not be al
PIopfltted by the army. The Germa
eo'erhment also is willing to perm
1unerIcan consular officers to whine
~ SAFE and distribution Of such foo
SlHs 10 determine whether or n
"e3 actually are reaching the CT
population of Germany.
49, Wiihcimina Discussed.
'He ambassador discussed the ca
'"e Wllhelmina, an Americ;
seeaiher seized by Great Britain on
iU9urhey to Germany with foodstuf
- peheVes the American governme
Ifa'o1uu take an interest in the safe q
So vi the cargo to Germany. IT
nj department has taken no fl
acuon beyond requesting Gre
caaItIA 10 postpone prize court pl
col NHSS untl the owners of the v,
r. "no nave submitted a brief
e,.. apartment, are enabled to d
~ the case further mere.
~ question of & such as ii
'"e Wlihelmina which were sh
pvu before the German decree TAX.
the national food supply beca
fF""HvcuVe' probably will be cove
RriiGl III the American reply to
frntl" note 10Y being transmit
ee,m london and dealing with
Ma subject OF neutral CONNIE
de- d the communication has b
fun 'Hefed and ii is understood to
'"l OF statistics.
resumption Not Proof.
fac, lor conditional contraband.
taean the German government
tNfN over H.