Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18

ernments would have to permit the !
entry OF tho raw material mentioned |
In the free list of the Declaration of |
London and to treat materials included |
In tho list OF conditional oontrabnnd !!
according TO the same principles as |
food and foodsturs
HOPES AGREEMENT
MAY he EFFECTIVE
The German government venture to |
hopo that tho agreement for which the |
American government have paved the |,
way may be reached. and that i'm this |
way peaceable neutral shipping and
trade VIII not have to suffer any moro |
than Is absolutely necessary from the |
unavoidable effects of maritime war |,
| These effects could he still further re-
duced If some way could be found to
exclude the shipping OF munitions of
i war from neutral countries to belliger-
ents.
The German government must re-
serve definite statement Of their DO
sition until such time az they may re-
ceive further information enabling
them to SEQ what obligations tho Brit
ish government are willing to assume.
The undersigned avails himself Of
this occasion. etc.
(Signed) WON JAGOw.
Dated Foreign once. Berlin, Feb
ruary rs. 1915
Gerard"
The reply of Great Britain. handed
10 the american ambassador at London,
was follows:
London. March 1b, 1915.
following Is the memorandum dated
March 10. which Grey handed me to-
day:
On the ed OF February last, / re-
ceived communication from your cx
cellency of the identic note addressed
! 10 His Majesty's government and to
germany, respecting an agreement on
certain points as to the conduct OF the
war at sea. The reply of the German
| government TO this note has been nuh
iished. and 1t Is not understood from
the reply that tho German government
are preparing to abondon the practice
or sinking British merchant vessels bv
submarines, and 1t Is evident they vii, |
NOT abandon the use OF mines for Of
iehsivc purposes OH tho high seas ~
suggested by the government OF m.
united States. This being so. II might !
appear unnecessary for the British gov
eminent to make any further reply !
IMAM TO take note of the German an
s"er we desire, however to take the !
opportunity OF making a fuller state
ment OF the whole position. We recor
nize with sympathy the desire of the
government OF the United States 10 see
inc European war conducted in oc
cordance with the previously recoe-
hized rules of international law. II Is |
mus mat tho British forces have CON !
uuc'eo inc war. On the German side
II has been very different
TREATMENT OF CIVILIANS
BN GER nI,~nr-~-,~
]. The treatment Of civilian inhabi-
lahtS In Belgium and the north or
FRANCE has been made public by the
'elEihn and French governments. Mod
ern history affords no precedent for the
suHerings that have been inflicted on
me hefcnseless and noncomhatant pom
ulation Even the food of the popula-
non was contiscated until in Belgium IN
international commission, largely inf1u
enced by American generosity. and CON
Quoted under American auspiccs 60
cured from the German government a
promise TO spare what food was still
left In the country
.. We have from time to time r.-
ceiHed most terrible accounts or Tho
nnrbarous treatment TO which Rrttisb
oHicers and soldiers have been eynosed
arter they have been taken prisoners
some evidence hns been received of the
hardships to which British prisoners -,
contrasting, we believe. most unfavor
ABLY with the treatment OF German
prisoners in this country.
g. At the very outset of the war ,
herman mine layer was discovered law
Ing mine field on the high sens JTur
Their mine fields have been ,,id frnn,
time TO time without warning, and gen
eraiiy neutral az we'll as British yessni,
nave been sunk by them
= al various times during the war
German submarines have stopped ana
sunk British merchant vessels Tbn cn,,
cral rule tn which the British voverm
mcnt has adhered was that mrrch,n,
SeSseis, II captured. must be taken Iva,
io'e prize court. In one case. olrcoIv
quoted In note to the United States
government neutral vessel CARRYING
Ioodstnrs to unfortified town IN
Great Britain has been sunk Anotbor
case Is now reported In which n German
cruiser mas sunk nm American vessel
the William =. Frye-carrying n cnr.o
or wheat from Seattle to Qucenstown
III pom cascs, the onrgoes were pre-
sunaoiy destined for the civil ponula
tioN both these cases occurred before
'he detention by the British authorities
or me Wilhelmina and her carpo or
ioodstufs. which the German govern
ment alleges Is the Justification FOR
their own action.
o. unfor,!fed, open and defenseless ,
towns have been deliberately ana wan I
'ohiE b"mbarded by German ships OF |
war. causing in some cases consider
ahlc loss Of civilian LIE incIu6ing |
women and children
BoNIBS ARE DROPPED
ON DEi'ENSEIESS TOWNS
German air craft have dropped
oomoS ON the east coast of England !
where there were no military or strate
Ric points TO be attacked. On the |
"tnfr hahd am aware or hut two |
criticisms that have been made on Rri,
ism action In all these respects; (l> II |
- SAID that the British naval authori- /
tics also have laid some anchored !
mines on the high seas. They have /
uoNe so. but the mines were anchored |
and so constructed that they would he |
harmless II they went .adrift, and no |
mines were laid Till many weeks after
inc Germans had made a regular Drac-
tlce OF having mines OH the hirh .nns .