Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-18

Continued From Page One)
to have understood. Germany is ready
to deliberate with the United States
concerning measures which might Sc
cure the safety of legitimate shipping
of neutrals in the war zone. To pre-
vent consequences Of confusion, though
naturally not so far as mines are con
cerned, Germany recommends that the
United States make their ships which
are carrying peaceful cargoes through
the war zone discernable by means of
conveys. How a method of convoy
can be carried out is a question con
corning which Germany is ready to
open negotiations with the United
States as soon as possible. Germany
viii be particularly grateful. however.
if the United States recommend to its
merchant vessels 70 avoid the war
zone, in any case. until settlement of
the flag question"
England is Unbending.
Washington. D. c.. Feb. 1S.-Great
Britain's second and complete reply to !
the American note OF protest which on /
Dec. IS last asked for an early i'm /
proyement in the treatment of Amer F!
dean commerce by the British fleet I!
was made public Wednesday night |
by mutual agreement between the /
state department and the British for /
eign office.
The note addressed to Ambassador !
Page by Sir Edward Grey under date 7
of Feb. 10. denies that the depression /
in American industries IS due TO the .
activity of the British fleet and sug
gests among other causes the short
age of shipping facilities. the conse-
auent diminution of cotton trade and !
the destruction by submarine mines
laid by the enemy indiscriminately'
of many neutral vessels.
After giving a lengthy and detailed
answer to- the charge that Americon
ships and cargoes are being unduly (
detained. the communication conin-
ues in its concluding paragraph the
announ cement that England intends
to take retaliation measures against
the German submarine campaign
against enemy ships, but does not re
veal their nature
Is Firm Reply.
Conceding that foodstuffs intended /
for the civil population of a country
are not contraband, the British govern
ment points out that in any country
in which there exists such tremen-
dous organization for war as now OBJ
tains in Germany, there is no clear dl-
vision between those whom the gov
eminent is responsible for feeding and
those whom il is not"
ct will still be our endeavor." says
the final paragraph. Ito avoid injury
and loss 10 neutrals but the announce
ment by the German government OF
their intention to sink merchant yes
sells and their cargoes without verif-
cation of their nationality or charac-
ar and without making any provision !
for the safety of non-Combatant crews ;
n giving them a chance of saving I
heir lives has made it necessary for !
His majesty's government to consider
what measures they should adopt 10
Drotec1 their interests. Ii IS impOs- ,
,ible for one belligerent TO depart :
rom rules and precedents and for the
,ther 10 remain bound by them.
Denial is Made.
experimenting the preliminary re- :
,ly OF several weeks ago, the new note
: about ten thousand words long and
Includes not only statistical argument
,ut a further discussion Of the legal
principles involved. Foremost, how
yer. is the denial of the British gov
.rnment that the depression in Ameri-
an industries referred to in the Amer
can note was due to the alleged IN