Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18
Shipping Protest Is Met by
Firm Avowal to Cut Off
Germany's Food Sup
plies, No Matter if Neu-
trails Suffer.
Ruling by Bismarck Cited to
Show Germany's Stand in
1884 - Note Denies That
American Commerce Has
Suffered.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Great Britain
insists upon It's right to starve Germany
both It's lighters and It's civilians This ID
the most significant contention In the
British reply to Americas shipping pro-
test. This is contended because OF the
'impossibillty of preventing neutral car
goes, ostensibly for the use of noncom-
batants, from being turned over ultimate
" 10 the military authorities for the feed
Ing Of the Kaiser's troops"
The words of Bismarck. ruling on re-
suits OF contraband decrees, are hurled
back upon Germany to prove that neu-
trails must suffer-
Officials did not attempt today to dis
Euise the gravity OF the situation. Pri-
vately they admitted that the whole for
eign problem was fraught with danger
TO this nation.
The British supplementary reply gave
the Administration little satisfaction,
In effect the reply was;
War Affects every nation. and neu-
trails commerce naturally suffers, too.
But from the United States own De-
partment of Commerce figures. 1t is
demonstrated that the war exports
have been higher than corresponding
periods the previous year, except in
the matter of cotton shipments.
The British fleets activities in SELF
ure and search of American vessels
ONHAiCt ipt IOT ANY utlIdNOT-
able condition of United States trade.
There is more reason to protest
against German strewinE cf mines in
the North Sea than against British
interference with vessels.
Great Britain feels that It must pro-
tect. itself, and that K may shorten
the war by carefully determining
whether cargoes contain contraband
or whether their neutral country des-
tinattop Is merely a cloak for ultimate
destination to "the enemy"
Figures OF meat export to Scandl-
navian countries. contiguous to Ger
many, for instance, indicate remark
able. and the. note limited, suspicious
growth since the war started.
Britain Is doing no more than the
United States did in the Civil War
and International law precedents are
Is cited in proof.
British rules give shippers redress
without diplomatic interference in case
of wrongful seizure.
Britain intends TO prevent foodstuffs
from reaching the German Government
tood monopoly.
concedns that foodstuffs intended for
the civil population OF a country are not
contraband, the British Government
points out that "in any country in which
there exists such a tremendous organi-
zation for war as now obtains in Ger
many there is no clear division between
TeEDOnAl-
Die for FEEDING and those whom 1t Is not"
BUSINESS DEPRESSION DENIED.
Tt win still be our endeavor," saws the
final paragraph. ito avoid injury and
loss 20 neutrals, but the announcement
by the German Government OF its fnten-
tion to sink merchant vessels and their
cargoes without veriication OF their ma
tionality or character and without maxi
nFnUiGtnT1 far fha F,t,
combatant crews or giving them chance
OF saving their lives, has made it neces-
sary for his majesty's Government to
consider what measures 1t should adopt
TO protect its interests. 1t is impossible
for one belllgerent to depart from rules
and Drecedents and for the other to re-
main bound by them"
1t Is unfortunately true that in these
days, when trade and finance are cos
mopolitan, any war, particularly a war
OF any magnitude, must result in a griev-
Gus dislocation of commerce. including
that OF the nations which take no part in
the war. Your excellency will realize
that in this tremendous struggle, for the
outbreak of which Great Britain is in
no way responsible, II is impossible for
the trade of any country to escape all in
Jury and loss, but for such his Matesty's
Government Is not to blame"
Sir Edward then points out that only
eight out of T3 ships sailing from the
United States for neutral European coun-
tries have been placed in the prize courts,
and that only 40 have been Temporarily
to enable particular consign-
menta OF cargo to be discharged for the
purpose of prize court proceedings"
WARS INCoNvENIENcEs."
Moreover. the British communication
contends that even though trade between
he United States and the Allies has al
ffnfahad nj "a
Ieutral countries, as compared with pre-
rious years, has been maintained and the
inference ''may fairly be drawn" that a
substantial part of this trade was in
TACT Intended for the enemy countries
goinE through neutral ports by routes to
which II was previously unaccustomed." !"
Up until now" continues the note.
25 neutral vessels have been reported
- destroyed by mines on the high seas,
quite apart from all questions of the
breach Of treaties and the destruction
lf life, there Is far more reason for nro-
est on the score OF belIigerent inter
'erence with innocent neutral trade
through the mines scattered by the enemy
han through the British exercise of the |
light OF SELLING contraband."
Turning to the question OF conditional |
and foodstutfs, the note saws,
mo country had maintained more |
toutiy than Great Britain In modern |
lines the principle that a bslligerent |
Ihould abstain from interference with |
he foodstuffs intended for the civil popu- |
atlon- The circumstances Of the present |
truggle are causing his majestys Gov /
rnmsnt some anxiety as to whether the /
xisting rules with regard to conditional |
pntraband. framed as they were with /
he object OF protecting, SO far as pos
ible, the supplies which were intended
or the civil population. are effective for
he purpose. or suitable to the conditions
Z the present.
Sir Edward then quotes Prince Bis
1afez's answer to the ESiel Chamber OF
'qnlnzerce in 1s4i, in connection with
ise treatment OF rice as eontraband In /
be Hfench-Chiness War:
The measure IN question:, Prince
isHarrk IS quoted as saying. has for
o. eAIcet the shortening OF the war By |
ucfaaslng The dificulties of the enemy
I'd = a tuatihable step ia war II im-
arnaliy enforced against all neutral
hinz
= unnnnNFVHa CTnuArrulfr