Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-18
q. S. Transmits Note from Ber-
lin to Great Britain-Require-
ment Is That FOOdstuffs Be
Freed of Restrictions.
THREAT To LAY MINES
Situation Is Serious One for AM
erican COmmerce-Wilhelmina
Issue Regarded AS Test Case
Entire Question of Feeding
Germans Involved.

Washington, Feb. 15.-With only three
days remaining before the German ad-
miralty proposes to carry into effect its
proclamation ordering u submarine cam
paign on enemy merchant ships, develop
ments in the diplomatic situation moved
rapidly to-day through the medium Of
the United States government, custodian
of the diplomatic interests of the va
rious belligerents.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am
bassador, delivered a note to the United
States which was promptly transmitted
to Great Britain. in which Germany Of
fered to recede from her plan of de-
stroying enemy merchant ships, If re-
strictions placed by the allies on ship
ments of conditional contraband and
foodstuffs destined to the civilian pop
ulation of Germany were removed.
Otherwise, the note announced. Ger
many proposes to put into effect the
original proclamation adding also the
6trewing of mines in waters surrounding
3reat Britain and Ireland. Alleged arm
ng of British merchant vessels is given
by the German government as ground
or attack on enemy merchant ships
without search or previous visit. regard
ng merchant craft hereafter as in the
category of warships. The ambassa-
ior's communication was sent from Ber-
In before the recent American note was
delivered by Ambassador Gerard and is
supplemental to the German foreign Of
Ice memorandum on the subject OF the
1ew war zones.
At the same time that the German
ambassador conferred with Secretary
Bryan and Counsellor Lansing, the COM
blete text Of the British reply to the
American note of protest on neutral
shipping dated December e. was re-
teived. 1t was laid before President Will
non. Besides giving statistics on neutral
commerce and entering a general denial
hat there had been any unwarranted in
reference with legitimate shipments, the
new note contains a statement from
Great Britain that the recent govern
nent decree taking over the flour and
rain supply in Germany added precau-
ions on the part of the allies that con
itional c~ontrahand might not be permit
ed to reach the armed forces of the
nemy. The document constitutes a fur
her statement of the British govern
nent on the legal questions involved.
me full text will not be given out until
yfter the agreement for publication is
cached with the British foreign office.
WILHELMINA CASE.
Another development which bears di-
ectly on the submarine warfare threat
ned by Germany was the despatching OF
telegram by the state department to-
ay to Ambassador Page instructing him
0 submit to the British foreign office evil
ence given here by the owners of the
merioan steamer W1lhelmina to prove
hat her cargo consists Of foodstuffs des-
ned for non-combatants and not subject
D seizure. The suggestion is made that
Mess Great Britain has sufficient
rounds. not Yet advanced, for doing 9TH
rwise the ship be permitted at once to
receed with her cargo to her destination,
From the German point OF view the
vilhelmina constitutes a test case on
khich revolves the entire question of
eeding Germany. The German ambas-
hdor here In a recent note to the Amer
Ian government pointed out that Ger
hany had modified its decree so that i'm
orted foodstuffs would not be taken
yer by the government and suggesting
nat American organizations, or consular
mcers, be appointed to supervise the
stribution of the imported foodstuffs
3 a guarantee that none of the American
hipments would reach the armed force.
Z Germany.
SITUATION SERIOUS.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British am