Askov American., 1915-02-18
ANNOUNCE READINESS TO RE
cEpE If ENGLAND WILL AL
LOW IMPORTATION OF
FOOD TO GERMANY.
CHURCHILL INTIMATES
ALLIES WILL STOP SHIPS
British Merchant Vessels Are Being
Armed and Would Try to Sink
Submarines, According TO lnfor~
nation Reaching Berlin
Held to Be Warships,

London, Feb. i6.-In . statement TO
the house of commons, Winston Spen-
Ger Churchill, first lord of the admir-
atty, Intinated that further action
would be taken by the allies TO pre-
vent the Importation OF foodstuffs in
neutral ships to Germany.
Washington, Feb. 16.-Count Johann
Won BernstoTff, the German ambassa-
dor, has presented to the state de-
partment a note from his government
announcing that Germany stands
ready to consider receding from its
announced intention of attacking Brit
ish merchantmen if Great Britain will
withdraw its efforts to prevent food
stuffs from going to Germany for the
civilian population.
The note declares that Germany's
plan to attack British merchantmen
was a retaliatOry measure adopted be-
cause of the alleged violation OF inter.
national law by Great Britain in try.
ing to starve the nOncomhatant popu-
lation Of Germany, and that the lat
ter government Is ready to withdraw
from It's purpose as expressed in the
naval war zone decree as far as 1t ap.
plies to merchant vessels. as soon as
Great Britain, either of its own voli-
ton, or as a result of representations
from the neutrals, expresses its own
willingness to return to the usual
practices of international law on the
question Of fOOdstuffs.
Claims British Ships Armed.
The German note adds that the Ber.
English merchant vessels are being
armed and have orders to sail in
groups for protection and further that
they would try to sink submarines,
1t declared that there was now no
question of searching them, but the re-
suit would be that German ships
would fight them because they are
now held TO be warships.
The note declares further that Great
Britain, according to the information
of Germany, intended to use neutral
flags and that therefore neutral ship.
ping would he in danger in the war
zone, 1t was urged, therefore, that
meanwhile neutral shipping observe
tn request of Germany and go around
the north of Scotland in the course
of which had been declared outside
the war zone.
Not a Reply to U. S. Note.
1t was stated that the note received
by the ambassador from his foreign
office and carried by him personally
to the state department was not a re-.
ply to the recent American note to
Germany in regard to the war zone
decree. more comprehensive and
detailed reply to that communication
is expected soon. although 1t was not
known officially here when 1t might
be looked for
The note from Germany. is was
pointed out, constitutes sort of in,
termediary reply possibly presented
to this government because Of the
fact that the date when the war zone
decree goes into effect, Feb Is, is so
close at hand.
~Ah1NA AN@ 40 paSAj AAt@ "0aS HldAG uSN
partment officials call a humanitari,
an role toward Great Britain and Ger.
many. in efforts to straighten out the
food shipments tangle arising from
Germans vow of vengeance ON Eng,
land and incidental threat that Ameri.
can commerce would become invol
we'd,
hand, 1t will be on the ground that
British detention OF American food
Cargoes, Germany bound. lays Ameri,
can shipping open to German sub.
marine peril. But behind this. officials
limited, will be the humanitarian idea
Of saving both Britain and Germany
from themselves.