The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-02-18

lions, is being carried on between
American firms and Germany's enc
mics Germany fully cOmprehends tnat
the practice NJ right and the liberation
Of wroQg ON the part Of neutralS are
matters absolutely at the discretion of
neutrals, and involve NO formal viola
tion NJ neutrality. Germany, there
fore did not complain OF any formal
violation Of neutrality but the Ger
man government. I'm view Of complete
evidence before II cannot help point
ing out that 1t, together with the on.
tire public opinion Of Germany, feels
Itself 10 be severely prejudiccd by the
fact that the ncutrulS, In safeguarding
their rights IN legitimate commerce
with Germany, according tu intcrna
tionu mw, have up TO the present,
achieved no, or only insignificant
results while they are making unlim-
tied use Of their right by carrying
ON Coutrahrand traffic with Great
Britain aud our other enemies.
III II Is Il formal right NJ ncutralS
10 take no steps tn protect their
Legitimate trade with Germany uuu
even allow thcmSclvc, tu be- influenced
IN the direction Of the conscious aud
wiltul restriction of their trade, Oh
the other hand they have the perfect
right, which they unfortunately do not
exercise, to cease coutruhrnnd trade,
especially In arms. with Germany.s
enemies
"ln view Of this situation Germany,
after six months Of patient waiting,
sees herself obliged 10 answer Great
Britnins murderOus method Of naval
warfare with sharp counter measures,
If Great Britain, I'm her fight against
Germany summons hunger as an ally
! for the purpose NJ imposing ou civil
| ized people uf 7O,OOOOOO, the cnulLr
| between destiWtlOu and starvation, or
| submission 10 Great BrilHlu's com
/ mrrrin will, then Germany today Is
. determined tu take up the gauntlet
aud appeal to similar allies
Ask TOieranCc
"Grrmuuy trusts that tine urulwIs
who so far have submitted Do the dis.
advantageous consequences of Great
Rrimiur hunger war I'm silence ur
mostly IN registering u protest. will
display towards Germany up smaller
measure of tulrwtiuu even II Nrr.
man measures. Iihr those Of Grrut
Britain. present new torror- Of naval
warfare.
"MuruNrr the German government is
/ resolved 90 ,upurr-. WithHil the mean,
ut It's disposal the importation Of war
material 10 Great Britain ana rrr
allies and she takes 10 for granted thai
. neutral governments which su far have
taken no steps against the trafflc m
arms, with Germany enemies. viii
not oppose forcIhr suppression by
/ Germany Of this trade
Acting from this point of View tho
German admiralty proclaimed a
naval WIT zone whose limits II ry
actly defined. Germany So far u-
possible. win seek 10 close this wal
zone with mines aud also VIII en-
dcayor to destroy hostile merchant
vessels I'm every other wnyN
while the Gcrmnn government
keeps itself far removed from all In
'tnruatlonal destruction of neutral live,
and property, on the other hand II
JOns not fail to recognize that from
the action 10 he taken against tircnI
Britain dangers arise which threntc
Ian trade within the war zone, with
cut distinction
This is natural result NJ mine war
fare which, even under the StrIctes
observance of international law Ell
dangers every ship approaching tn,
mine area.
"Thc German government consid
crs itself entitled to hope all ncutral
Twin acQulpsce In these measures a.
they have done I'm the ease OF th,
grlevlous damages inflicted on them b.
British measures. all the more so a
Germany * resolved for the protrc
tIon Of neutral shipping even In III,
naval war zone, to do everything com
putibc with the attainment Of thi
object
Warning Was Given.
In view Of the fact thnt Germany
gave the first proof of her good vii
In fixing a time limit Of not less thai
fourteen days before the execution o
said measures 50 that neutral ship
ping might have nm opportunity u
making arrangements tO avoid threat
culng danger this can most surely h
achieved 10y remaining away from IN,
naval war zone
Neutral vessels. which. despite thl
ample notice which greatly affects th
achievement our aims In our wa
against Grcut Britain enter these clos
'rd waters themselves will bear the re-
/ .sronslhilty for any unfortunate nc
cidcnts that may occur Germany DIS
claims ull responsibility for such acct
dents and their consequences
Germany further has announce,
. the destruction NJ all enemy mcrchun
vessels found within the war zone
hut not the destruction Of all mrr
chant vessels ms the United state
seems crrourously to have understood
, This restriction which Great Rritni
. imposes ON itself Is prcjudlclal 10 on