The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-03-04
TEUTON NOTE is
GIVEN TO PRESS
Official Text Of Germans' Latest Com
munlcAtiOn Is Made Public; Feeling
IL Friendly.

N FTltnuil.
WASHINGTON, March i--Thc off !
cial text ~ the German governments |
reply TO the American note suggesting
| that Germany and Great Britain agree
on II plan to lessen danger tJ neutral
shipping In the war zone WAS made
public here today II follows
The imperial German government
have taken note with great interest OF
the suggestion Of the American gov
ernmcnl that certain principles Tor
the conduct ~ maritime warfare on
the part Of Germany aud England be-
agreed upon for the protection Of
neutral shipping They see thereipt
new evidence of the friendly feelings
Of the American government toward
the German government which are
/ fully rcclptOrnted by Germany.
| III Is In accord with Germany X !
wishes also 10 have maritime war con
/ duriod according 10 rules which. with |
out discriminatory restricting one ur
the other uf the belligcrrnt overs In /
/ the use of their means of warfare
/ are equally COnsidrrHtr ~ the inter .
ests uf ucutrnls and the dictates Of /
humanity, Consequently II wus init |
| mated In the German note " the 10Th |
/ Instant that observation Of the dec. |
lurtiuu of London ON the part NJ Gen. |
muuys adyprsHrlcs would create "A
new situation from which the German
government would gladly draw the
| proper conclusions
Basis for solution.
Proceeding from this view the Ger
man government has carefully exam.
ined the suggestion of the American
| government and believe that they can
actually see In II suitable basis for
the practical solution Of the questions !
which have arisen
with regard 10 the various points |
Of the American note they beg to |
make the following remarks
First with regard to the sowing
Of mines, the German government |
would be- willing to agree AZ sug
gested not 10 use Floating mines aud |
| 10 have anchored mines constructed as |
Indicated. Moreover they agree to
put the stamp ~ the government ON all |
mines tu be- planted On the othef |
hand II dOcs not appear to them 10 7,
be- feasible for the belligrrrn.s wholly |
Ia forego the use NJ anchored mines |
for offensive purposes.
"SeCOnd-Thc German government
would undertake not tO use their sub !
marines 10 attack mercantile vessels ~ !
any flag except when necessary 10 cn
force the right of visit aud search. |
should the enemy nationality NJ the !
vessel or the presence NJ cuntraband |
be ascertancd, submarine would pro. |
cecd In accordance with the rules Of |
international law
"1hlrd-As provided In the Amer
lean note this strictlon of the use Of
the submarines is content on the fact |
that merchantmen refrain from the use
of United States and other distinctive |
nCSs
Mercantile ships must also abstain |
| from armlng themselves and from re
| sisting by force contrary tu interna. |
| tional law which will render impos |
slblr any action Of the submarines I'm |
| accordance with international law
Fourth regulation Of regular
lmportations Of food into Germany sug.
gested 10y the American government
appears 10 he generally acceptable
Such regulation would also include IN !
direct importation by way Of neutral
/ government our government would
I therefore he willing tO make the dec !
larHtiOns " the nature provided I'm the
American note, 81 that the use Of the
lmnpTInfI
the non-comhatants might be safely |
, transported from neutral countries.
The imperial government must, !
however In addition, emphasize hay
lng the importation Of other raw mn
terials used by the economic system
/ ~ nUn-cOmbatants, including forage /!
/ permitted To that end. the enemy /
governments would havc ~ permit the
free entry into Germany NJ the raw
material mentioned In the free list Of ]
the declaration Of London and 10
treat materials included IN ~, list OF
conditional cOntraband according To
the same principles rs food and food /
stuffs
The German government venture
]
the American government have paypd |
lhe way may bc reached after due .
consideration NJ the remarks made /
above ana that In this way peaceahle /
neutral shipping and trade win not
have to suffer any more than IL ab.
solutely necessary from the nnayoIda.
ble effects Of maritime war. These ef /
fects could be still farther reduced II.
aS was pointed out I'm tn, German
note Of the 18th, some way could I've
FOUND 10 exclude the shipping NJ mu-
nitions of war from neutral countries
To belligcrents on ships on ne, tral ma.
tlOns.
The German government must VI
course reserve definite statement
ftheir position until such time as
they may receive farther information
from the American government enab-
ling them TO see what obligations the
Great Britain government on It's part