The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
Reply to American Note Is Friendly, But the Kaiser's Position Is With Ov+ Change
r
 As sGESTS THAT U. S.. csEND CONVOY WITH 2 MERCHANT VESSELS
Germany Holds Position Made Necessary Through Britain's Policy in Stop ping Food Cargoes

Berlin, February 1S.-(Via London, 5:58 a. m.)-Germany's reply to the protest of the United States against designation of a naval war zone about the British Isles is couched in the most friendly terms, but firmly main- tains the position of Germany as al- ready proclaimed.
 The German note recommends that the United States send warships to England to convoy merchant vessels through the danger zone as security against attack, with the understand ing that vessels thus guarded shall carry no war supplies.
 The note, which has been transmitted to Washington through the American en- bassy, explains that Germanys action was made necessary by Great Britain s policy of attempting to cut off the food supply of the German civil population by a method never recognized in interpation- al law England's course in ordering merchantmen to fly neutral flags, eouip- ping themselves with artillery and order ing them to destroy submarines, Germany contends, renders nugatory the right of search and gives Germany the right to attack English shipping. Germany holds that she cannot abandon that right un- der the stress England has forced upon her.
 Germany argues that since she must compel her enemies to return to the rec ognized principles of international law and restore the freedom of the seas the stand she has taken is necessary. Hope IS expressed that the American govern ment Will understand the position in which Germany has been placed and ap- | preciate the reasons for her course The reply closes with expression oi the hope that the United States may prevail upon Great Britain ito return to the principles of international law rec oenized prior to the outbreak of the war | and, in particular, obtain observance oi the declaration of London. If this were done. the note explains, Germany would recognize in this. says the reply, an in. valuable service toward more humane conduct of the war and would act in ac. cordance with the new situation thus created
 The text of Gernanys reply to the American note of protest follows:
 ''The imperial government has exam. | ined the communication from the United | States government in the same light oi good will and friendship by which the communication appears to have been die.
 tated. The imperial government is ir
 accord with the United States govern
 ment that for both parties it is in a higf degree desirable to avoid misunderstand
 ings which might arise from measures 1 announced by the German admiralty ant
 to provide against the occurrence of in
 cidents which might trouble the friendl,
 relations which so far as known hap
 pily exist between the two governments With regard to the reassuring of these friendly relations the German government believes that it may all the more reckon
 on q full understanding with the United States as the procedure announced b,
 the German admiralty, which was full, explained in the note of the 4th instant 1 Is in no way directed against legitimat, l commerce and legitimate shipping of neu trals but represents solely a measure | of self defense. imposed on German, by her vital interests against England method of warfare. which is contrar, to international law, and which. so fa no protest by neutrais has succeeded II
 bringing back to the generally recognized principles of law as existing before thu outbreak of the war.
 Exclude Points of Doubt
 Il "In order to exclude all doubt regard ing the cardinal points, the German gov ernment once more begs leave to stats how things stand. Until now Germany has scrupulously observed valid interna tional rules regarding naval warfare. Al the very beginning of the war German officials agreed to the proposal of tn, American government to ratify immedi ately the new declaration of London ant took over its contents unaltered and with cut formal obligation into her prize law
 ''The German government has obeyet
 these rules, even when they were dia
 metrically opposed to her military in
 cerests. For instance, Germany allowe. lthe transportation of provisions to Eng land from Denmark until today, althougl she was well able by her sea forces t. prevent it. In contradistinction to thi | r~lo md has m bas ia c.