New-York tribune., 1915-03-18

don on the part Of Germany's adver-
saries would create new situation
from which the German government
would gladly draw the proper conclu-
sions.
Proceeding from this view the Ger
man government have carefully exam
ined the suggestion of the American
government and believe that they can
actually see in II suitable basis LOT
the practical solution OF the questions
which have arisen. -.
With regard TO the vafious points
Of the American note they beg to make
the following remarks:
With regard TO the sowing OF
mines, the German government woulu
be willing TO agree as suggested not
TO use floating mines and TO nave an
chored mines constructed as indicated
Moreover. they agree TO put the stamp
OF the government on all mines TO De
planted On the other hand, 1t does
not appear to them to be feasible ior
the belligerents wholly TO forego tne
use OF anchored mines for offensive
purposes. ,,Id
2-The German government wouid
undertake. not TO use their submarines
10 attack mercantile of any flag except
when necessary to enforce the ngh'
of visit and search. Should the enemy
nationality of the vessel or the pres
ence of contraband be ascertained SUD-
marines would proceed in accordance
with the general rules Of lnternatohai
law. .,.o
S.-As provided in the American
note. this restriction of the use OF the
submarines is contingent on the TACT
that enemy mercantile abstain from
the use of the neutral flag and other
neutral distinctive marks. Ii would
appear to be matter of course that
such mercantile also abstain from arm
ing themselves and from all resistance
by force, since such procedure con-
trary to international law would rem
der impossible any action of the sub
marines in accordance with interna-
tional law.
Wanted Raw Material.
4.-The regulation of legitimate i'm
portations of food into Germany sug-
gested by the American government APP
pears TO be in general acceptable. Such
regulation would, of course, be con-
fined to importations by sea, but that
would, on the other hand, include lndl-
rect importations by way of neutral
ports. The German government would,
therefore, be willing to make the dec
larations of the nature provided in the
American note so that the use OF the
imported foods and foodstuffs solely by
the non-combatant population would be
guaranteed.
The imperial government must, how
ever, in addition () having the imp0r-
tation of other raw material used by
the economic system OF non-com-
batants, including forage, permitted. o
that end the enemy governments would
have to permit the free entry into Ger
many of the raw material mentioned IN
the free list of the Declaration OF Lon
don and to treat materials included in
the list of conditional contraband &C
cording to the same principles as food
and foodstuffs.
The German government venture 10
hope that the agreement for which the
American government have paved the
way may be reached after due con-
sideration of the remarks made above,
and that in this way peaceable neutral
shipping and trade will not have 10
suffer any more than is absolutely
necessary 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
10th instant, some way could be found
TO exclude the shipping of munitions
of war from neutral countries TO bel
ligerents on ships of any nationality.
The German government must, OF
course, reserve a definite statement OF
their position until such time as they
may receive further information from
the American government enabling
them to see what obligations the Brit
ish government are on their part will
ing TO assume.
The undersigned avails himself OF
this occasion, etc. Won JAGOW.
Dated Foreign Office, Berlin. Febru'
arv %. 1915. GERARD.
op,iccirp