The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-10
answers our Note
GERMANS DO NOT Want TO give
Up Use OF mines
ACCEPT Other points

ACCEPT Other points
Berlin Gives Text Of Governments
Reply-London Reports Fuller Ac-
count of American Note-German
Reply is In Friendly Tone Of Our
Protest
In its reply to the American note
concerning the German naval war
zone the German government agrees
that under certain conditions its sub
marine will halt and Investigate mer-
chantmen, and will proceed against
only such vessels as are found to be
carrying contraband OF are owned in
nations hostile to Germany.
The reply declared Germany's read
mess to accept virtually all OF the
American proposals except the one
| which would restrict the use CT IN an
chorcd mines to purely defensive pur-
poses. The German government ex-
| presses the belief that beiligerents
can not afford to abandon entirely the
| use of anchored mines FOR offensive
operations. 1t is willing to consider
the abandonment of fosting mines.
In case German submarines take
action, after Investigation, against
merchantmen carrying contraband or
J owned in hostile countries, it is
agreed that such action will be in ac-
cordance with the general rules of in
ternational law. This presupposes,
however, the abandonment Of the use
Of neutral flags by merchantmen of
hostile 1ations or tho arning of such
merchantmen. If such tactics were
employed, Germany contends, it
would be impossible to restrict the
operations Of submarines in this man
ner.
The reply also suggests that these
constituted in the countries concern
| ed American commissions, tc which
supplies Of foodstufs for the use of
civilian populations could be con3igA-
ed. This plan, 1t is said, is contem-
plated In the American proposals.
The reply ais suggests that these
countries should be allowed to i'm
port AMI control the distribution of
other articles, especially fodder,
which are en- the conditional contra
band list in the Declaration Of Lon
don. Germany states that interfer-
ence with articles on the absolute
free list in the Declaration Of London
should be abandoned
What most Impressed US in the
American note was the evident spirit
Of absolute fairness in which the
American government approached
the problem, and its desire to pro-
pose q solution which could be &C.
cepted by both sides," said high Of
fetal Of the German government.
I'VE endeavored IN the reply to
follow the same rule. The modiica-
tions we suggested are inspired by
the desire to round out and complete
the American proposals."
eve are sure, for instance, that
the American government would have
inserted the clause covering armed
merchantmen, if this subject had oc-
CURED tc. them. The reservation re-
garding the offensive use of anchored
mines IS justified by The Hague con-
ventions, which expressly authorize
such procedure; and even therein ii
will be noticed that our note says
only that We can not renounco com
pletely' tho use of such mines.
THE government is convinced that
the American proposals furnish an
acceptable basis for practical solu-
ton Of the present difficulties and
problems Of the maritime situation .'
| London reports: A Reuter- dis
patch from Amsterdam gives the con-
tents OF the American note of Feb
ruary % to Great Britain and Ger.
many's reply thereto. The notes were
received in Amsterdam in dispatch
from Berlin.
The American note expresses the
hope that Great Britain and Germany
may, through reciprocal concessions
discover basis of understanding
which would tend to free ships en-.
gagged in neutral arJ peaceful COM
merce from serious dangers to which
they are exposes in passing through
the coastal waters of the belligerent
; countries.
i This suggestion, the note says,
should not be considered as a pro-
posal by the American government
whom it does not behoove to propose
!. conditions for such an agreement,
: though the question at issue has a
direct and far reaching interest for
the United States.
The suggestion is made that Ger
many and Great Britain should agree
first, that isolated drifting mines
should be laid by neither party, that
anchored mines should be laid ex-
clusively for defence, within gun
range OF harbors, and that all mines
should lear the mark of the govern
ment Of origin and be so constructed
as to become harmless after breaking g
loose from their anchorage.
| 1t IS suggested, second, that sub
marines should not be employed to
attack vessels Of any nationality, ex-
cept to carry out the right of hold
ing them up and searching them
and, third, that mercantile chips OF
neither Of the parties should employ
neutral flags as war ruse or to con-
ceal their identity.
Great Britain, it is suggested,
should agree that foodstuffs shall not
be made absolute contraband and
that the British authorities neither
shall disturb nor, hold up cargoes of
such goods when addressed to
agencies in Germany, the names of
which are communicated by the
United States government, for the
purpose Of receiving such goods and
! handing them over to licensed Ger
man retailers for further distribution
exclusively to the German population
Germany, it is contended. should
declare her agreement that foodstuffs