Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-02-14
Bernsdorff Tells Bryan Eng land Must Be Forced to
 Release Wilhelmina.
U. s. RESPONSIBLE
 FOR CONSEQUENCES
Germans Willing That Americans Should Distribute Food Intended for Civilians, But Will Hold '. $. Re-
 spOmSibIc for NOn.Deliyery.

Washington, Feb. 13.-Count von acting under instructions from the Berlin foreign office, called upon Secretary Bryan today and delivered warni>g to the United States that if the British government does not permit the Wilhelmina with her cargo of foodstuff to go through to Ger many, the German authorities will take steps in retaliation that may in directly prove dangerous to Amer ican shipping.
 Ambassador Bernsdorff urged upon Secretary Bryan firmly and insistent- ly that the United States should nor acquiesce in any action by Great Britain designed to starve out the civil population of Germany.
 He told the secretary that interna- tional law did not sanction the with holding of food supplies from non- combatants in belligerent country. The cargo of the Wilhelmina. he said, was intended for the non-com- batants in Germany, and Germany was willing that this cargo should be distributed under the supervision of
 
 Cargo Must Reach Germany. With Germany's agreement that l the cargo should be distributed under American supervision, the ambassa- dor said there would be no question of Germany's good faith, which he did not think Great Britain should question, but if Great Britain should persist in the expressed determina- tion to take the Wilhelmina and it's cargo into the prize court and if the decision should be unfavorable, then l Germany would be forced to a re- prisal.
 Any reprisal she might take to pre- vent the starvation of her civil popu- )ation, the ambassador thought, would be fairly justified.
 The ambassador made it clear that unless the United States did uphold the right of Germany to have vne cargo distributed to her civil popu- lation under the guaranty given, the United States would make herself responsible to an extent for such consequences as might ensue through the acts of German reprisal.
 Will Ignore U. $. Warning.
 The warning is thought to clearly forecast the attitude which Germany will take in her reply to the note of the American government on the sub- ject of the North sea war zone which Germany declared.
 It is perfectly clear now that Ger many does not intend to stop at any reprisal which she may thiak neces- sary to protect her civil population from hardship which would be tm- posed upon it under the proposed British blockade.
 Unless Great Britain agrees that foodstuff shipped from the United States and other neutral countries can be distributed in Germany under supervision of the agents of the neh- tral countries, Germany will fo everything in her power to destrpy British shipping, and will not de6m it incumbent upon her to be particu- larly regardful o: the rights of neu- trals whose ships enter the declared North sea war zone.
 If the United States wants assur- ance that it's ships in the North sea shall be protected from all possibility of danger from the operations of German submarines, then the United States, according to the warning given by Germany today, must re- sist the efforts of Great Britain to stop foodstuffs from going to the civil population of Germany.