The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-04
German Note TO
j. S. made public
Continued From. First Page.

of mines the German government would
be willing to agree as suggested not
to use floating mines and to have
anchored mines constructed as indi-
Gated 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 for the
belligerents wholly to forego the use of
anchored mines for offensive purposes.
'Second-The German government
would undertake not to use their sub
marines to attack mercantile ships of
any flag except when necessary to en-
force. 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
Use of the Neutral Flag
''Third-As provided in the Amer
lean note this restriction of the use
of the submarines is contingent on the
fact that enemy mercantile ships alb
stain from the use of the neutral flag
and other neutral distinctive marks. 1t
would appear to be a matter of course
that such mercantile vessels also alb
stain from arming themselves and from
all resistance by force since such pro.
cedure contrary to international law
would render impossible any action of
the submarines in accordance With in
ternational law.
Fourth-The regulation of legiti-
mate importations of food into Ger
many suggested by the American gov
eminent appears to be in general ac-
ceptable Such regulations would, of
course, be confined to importatons by
sea, but that would on the other hand
include indirect importations by way
of neutral ports. The German govern
ment would therefore, be willing to
make the declarations of the nature pro-
vldes In the American note so that the
use of the imported fcod and and food
stuffs solely by the noncombatant popu-
latlon would be guaranteed. The i'm
periai government must, however, in ad-
dition, emphasize having the importa-
tlon of other raw materials used bv the
economic system of noncombatants, in
cluding 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 Declaration of London
and to treat materials included in the
list of conditional contraband accord
ing to the same principles as food and
foodstuffs.
Hope Agreement May Be Reached
The German government venture
to hope that the agreement for which
the American government have paved
the way may be reached after due con-
slderation of the remarks made above.
and that in this way peaceable neutral
Stripping and trade will not have to
suffer any more than is absolutely nee
essary from the unavoidable effects of
maritime war. These effects could be
still further reduced if, as was pointed
out in the German note of the six
tenth instant, some way could be found
to exclude the shipping of munitions of
war from neutral countries to beliger-
ents on ships of any nationality.
The German government must, of
course, reserve definite statement of
their position until such time as thew
may receive further information from
the American government enabling
them to see what obligations the
British government are on their part
willing to assume -