New-York tribune., 1915-03-18
Great Britain's Reply
Rejected Proposal

The reply of Great Britain, handed
TO the American Ambassador at Lon
don, was as follows:
London, March Is, 1915.
Following is the full text OF a
memorandum, dated March l3, when
Grey handed me to-day:
On February % last l received a
communication from your excellency
of the identic note addressed to MS
majesty's government and TO Germany,
respecting an agreement on certain
points as to the conduct of the war
at sea.
The reply of the German govern
ment to this note has been published,
and it is not understood from the re-
ply that the German government are
prepared to abandon the practice OF
sinking British merchant vessels by
submarines, and it is evident from
their reply that they will not aban-
don the use of mines for offensive
purposes on the high seas as contrast
ed with the use of mines for defensive
purposes only within cannon range OF
their own harbors, as suggested by
the government of the United States.
This being so, it might appear unnec-
essary for the British government to
make any further reply than 70 take
note OF the German answer.
We desire, however, TO take the op-
portunity of making fuller statement
of the whole position and OF our feel
| ing with regard to it. We recognize
with sympathy the desire of the gov
ernment Of the United States to see the
| European war conducted in accordance
with the previously recognized rules OF
! international law and the dictates OF
( humanity. It is thus that the British
forces have conducted the war, and we
are not aware that these forces, either
naval OF military, can have laid 10
their charge any improper proceedings
/ either in the conduct of hostillties or
/ in the treatment of prisoners or wound
! ed. On the German side il has been
very different.
Treatment of Belgium Cited
The treatment Of civilian inhabi-
/ tants in Belgium and the north OF
/ France has been made public by the
| Belgian and French governments and
/ nv those who have had experience OF
| il at first hand. Modern history at
| fords no precedent FOR the sufferings
| that have been inflicted on the defence
/ less and non-combatant population IN
the territory that has been IN German
military occupation. Even the food OF
the population was confiscated until III
Belgium an international commission
| largely influenced by American gencr-
osity and conducted under American
auspices, came TO tho relief of the
population and secured from the Ger
man government promise TO spare
what food was still left in the ooun-
try, though the Germans still continue
20 make levies in money upon the de.
fenceless population for the support OF
f. the German army.
I've have from time TO time re-
ceived most terrible accounts of the
I barbarouS treatment TO which British
officers and soldiers have been exposed
after they have been taken prisoner
while being conveyed to German prison
camps. One or two instances have al
ready been given to the United States
government founded upon authentic
and frst-hand evidence which is be-
vond doubt. Some evidence has been
/ received of the hardships to which
British prisoners of war are subjected
/ in the prison camps, contrasting, we
; believe. most unfavorably with the
treatment of German prisoners in this
country. We have proposed, with the
consent Of the United States govern.
ment. that commission of United
States officers should be permitted il
each country TO inspect the treatment
of prisoners of war. The United States