The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
Probably Will Not Reply to Either British or Ger man Notes Answering Protests
POSITION BASED ON
 RIGHT OF NEUTRALS
 TO SELF PROTECTION
Germany Held Strictly Ac- countable for Any Injury to American CitiZens-TO Watch Developments

Washington, February 20.-Thc Uni- fed states probably will make no re- ply, for the present nt least. to either tho British German notes regarding, respectively, the use of the American fling on foreign vessels, and the dan gers 10 neutral shipping in the naval WET zone about the British isles, but will stand firmly on it's warning against dcstrnctfon of American lives pr vessels.
 Many officials who know the stuatios expect some further move only in tAp event of an overt act This was indf- cated in high official quarters today after fhe official texts of the communications had been read. The documents will be further examined, however, to determine whether there is anything in either note which, if not answered now, might be construed later as an admission.
 Tn the case of the note to Great Brit ain objecting to any general use of the American flag by British vessels, the com munication from England was not re- garded as altering the original warning of the United States against the meas ure of responsibility which would seem to be imposed on England if any Amer ican vessels or lives were lost as a re- suit of such general practice, although the denial of any intention to make fre- quent use of the neutral ensign was re- assuring to officials.
 Germany Responsible
 
 was pointed out. has stated in emphatic language that Germany would be held to 'strict accountability for any loss of American vessels "or lives'' and this warning is construed by administration officials to be sufficiently broad also to cover any injury to American citizens aboard beligerent vessels.
 Some high officials are urging that the United States having made itself suffi- ciently clear in it's correspondence with both Germany and Great Britain, should now remain silent and observe develop ments The arguments in both the Brit ishN and German communications charg- ing violations of the rules of interna- tional law and warfare. it is held by American government officials, are of no concern to the United States The break ing down of the doctrines of interna- tional law as between belligerents does not, in the view of high officials here, affect the status of those rules as between the United States and Great Britain and Germany, with whom this country is at peace. The position of the United States is based on the right of a neutral to de- mand certain treatment for its ships and commerce regardless of the respective ac- tions of the beligerents.
 Further correspondence with the bei- ligerents is opposed by many officials on the ground that the American govern ment ought not. to be drawn into dis cilssion of the charges which Great Britain ana Germany have made toward each other.
 RejOinder Expected
 There is every prospect, however, that the long British note replying to the American protest of December 2S on the subject of contraband will bring forth a re;oinder from the United States. The discussion therein is one of the academic principles of international law and while officials here admit that the commerce. of the United States has been treated since much better by the allies than be- fore the protest was sent, they are un- willing to set any precedent by acquies- ence in several of the British contentious. The state department of iare mas re- ceived comparatively few complaints or detentions aud seizure and the opinion prevails among officials that the Anerl- can note has had it's desired effect.
 As for the note which Great Britain sent in the ease of the American steamer Wilhelmina, bound for Germany with a
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