Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-14
GERMANY ANGRY
OVER DETENTION
Of F00DSTUFFS
Ambassador BernStorff Dis
cuSSeS With Secretary of
State Bryan Seizure of
Steamer WiIheImina.
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Washington, Feb 13.-The import
ance which the German government
attaches TO the. unrestricted shipment
OF foodstuffs for its civilian popula-
ton was emphasized at the state de-
partment today by Count Won Bern
storff, the German ambassador, who
conferred with both Secretary Bryan
and Counsellor Lansing While no
formal statement regarding the am
bassador's call was issued by the de-
partment, IL was said afterwards
that he had limited that warfare on
merchant shipping might be relaxed
If Germany could be assured of a
continuous food supply for her non
combatant population
Act of Retaliation.
The position of the German gov
eminent. it was explained, is that the
proclamation of a war zone and cam
paign against enemy merchant ships
was simply a retaliation against Eng
lands alleged violation Of the decla-
ration of London in hindering condo
tional contraband destined for civil
lians from reaching Germany. This,
according TO the German ambassador,
is no less inhumane than the cam
paign on merchant vessels.
Officials admitted informally that
the American note TO Germany was
open To the construction that no YES
sells either belligerent or neutral,
should be sunk unless previously
visited with opportunity given for the
taking off of passengers II was re-
iterated that while the rules of in
ternational law clearly compelled
such steps TO insure the safety Of
-Fnf1t rot "a m al co N
position taken was based largely on
humanitarian grounds.
Warming a Friendly One.
An official who assisted In the |
preparation of the American note to !
Germany, pointed out that the strong
warning tone OF the communication |
was not intended as threat, but in !
reality was a friendly act, done in q
spirit of precaution lest the sinking |
OF an American vessel with Ameri- !
cans aboard inflame public opinion |
in the United States to a degree |
which could not be estimated in add
vance.
The German ambassador, 1t is UNI !
derstood, did not discuss the inten-
lions of his government in eonnec-
tion with the announced campaigns (
on merchant ships. but confined HIM
self to explaining at length the Ger
man point of view on conditional con-
He holds that the United
States in contending for a strict OBJ
of the rights OF neutrals,
should interest itself in seeing that
contraband is not held up
on the high seas. The rules of inter-
national law even previous to the
declaration of London, the German
was understood to have
pointed out, require proof that the
articles are. destined to belligerent \
forces.
Guarantees Proper Use of Food.
The ambassador said the German
government had given assurances,
and also had modified its decrees so
that imported foodstuffs would not
be appropriated by the army. The
German government is also willing
to permit American consular officers
to witness the sale and distribution of f
such foodstuffs to determine whether
or not they actually are reaching the
civil population of Germany.
The ambassador discussed to some
extent the case of the Wilhelmina, an
American steamer, seized by Great
Britain on its journey TO Germany
with foodstuffs. He believes the
American government should take an .
interest in the safe delivery of the
cargo to Germany. No formal action
has been taken by the state depart
ment beyond requesting Great Brit !
ain to postpone prize court proceed |
ings until the owners of the vessel, |
who have submitted a brief to the |
department, are enabled to discuss /
the case further here.
Treat IL Fully In Reply.
The question of cargoes such as
that os the Wilhemina, which were
shipped before the German decree |
taking over the national food supply !
became effective, probably viii be
covered fully in the American reply |
to the British note now being trans |
mitted from London and dealing with
the general subject of neutral COM
merce. Most of the communication
has been deciphered and it is under
stod to be full of statistics.
Both Ambassadors Page and Ger |
ard sent brief messages to the state
department today declaring they |
had presented the respective COM
munications to the British and Ger |
man foreign offices. They did not |
add any comment as to the manner !
L.