Evening star., 1915-02-18

government. was to be employed
only for this purpose.
Germany is as good as cut of from
her overseas supply by the silent or
protesting liberation of neutrals. not
only In regard to such goods as are
absolute contra band, but also in re-
gard to such. as, according to ac-
knowledged law before the war. are
only conditional contraband or not
contra band at all. Great Britain, on
the other hand, is with the liberation
OF neutral governments not only sup
Piled with such goods as are not con-
traband or only conditional contra
band. but with goods which are re-
garded by Great Britain, If sent to
Germany, as absolute contraband;
namely. provisions. industrial raw
materials. etc, and even with goods
which have always indubitably been
regarded as absolute contraband.
Charges Traffic in Arms.
1.-THE German government feels IT.
self obliged to point out with the
greatest emphasis that traffic in
arms, estimated at many hundreds of
millions. is being carried on between
American firms and Germany's enc
mics. Germany fully comprehends
that the practice of right and the toll
GRAFTON of wrong on the part of neu-
trails are matters absolutely at the
discretion Of neutrals, and involve no
formal violation of neutrality. Ger
many, therefore, did not complain of
any formal violation of neutrality,
but the German government, In view
of complete evidence before it, cannot
help pointing ont that it, together with
the entire public opinion of Germany.
feels itself to be severely prejudiced
by the fact that neu,rals in safeguard
ing their rights in legitimate COM
merce with Germany according to
international law. have. up to the
present. achieved no. or only insig-
niticant. results. while they are max
ing unlimited use of their right by
carrying on contraband traffic with
Great Britain and our other enemies
IF IT is formal right of neu-
trails to take no steps to protect
their legitimate trade with Germany
and even to allow themselves to be
Influenced in the direction of the
conscious and willful restriction Of
their trade. on the other hand they
have the perfect right. which they
unfortunately do not exercise. to
cease contraband trade. especially
in arms, with Germany's enemies.
I'm view of this situation Ger
many. after six months of patient
waiting. sees herself obliged to an
swer Great Britain's murderous
iIiclIlou Vi naval warfare with
sharp counter measures. If Great
Britain in her fight against Ger
many summons hunger as an ally,
for the purpose of imposing upon a
civilized people Of seventy millions
the choice between .destitution and
starvation or submission to Great
Britain's commercial will, then Ger
many today is determined to take
up the gantlet and appeal to sim
liar allies.
Equal Treatment Asked.
Germany trusts that the neutrals
who SO far have submitted to the
disadvantageous consequences of
Great Britain's hunger war in 81
lence, or merely In registering
protest, will display toward Ger
many no smaller measure of tolera-
ton, even If German measures. like
those of Great Britain, present new
terrors of naval warfare.
Moreover, the German govern
ment is resolved to suppress with
all means at it's disposal the i'm
portation of war material to Great
Britain and her allies. and she takes
it for granted that neutral govern
ments, which so far have taken no
steps against the traffic in arms
with Germany's enemies. will not
oppose forcible suppression by Ger
many of this trade.
Acting from this point of view,
the German admiralty proclaimed a
naval war zone whose limits 1t ex-
actiy defined. Germany, SO far as
possible, will seek to close this war
zone with mines, and will also en-
deavor to destroy hostile merchant
vessels in every other way. While
the German government In taking
action based upon this overpower-
ing noint of YiAX kAAns itaalf far