The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-02-18

warfare, especially IN the application
Of the conception OF cOntraband prac-
ticed by Great Britain towards Ger
many-whlch conception also will be
interpreted similarly now by Germany
the presumption will be that neutral
ships have contraband aboard. Ger
many naturally IL unwilling TO re
nOuncc It's rights 20 ascertain the
presence Of contraband In neutral YES
sells and In certain cases To draw con
clusions thcrefrom
Germany is ready, finally. to de-
cclnng any measures which might
secure the safety Of legitimate ship,
ping of uculmlS in the war zone.
Germany cannot however forbear
TO point out that all It's efforts In this
direction may hc rendered very diff
cult by two circumstances first the
misuse Of neutral flags by British
merchant vessels. which induhitably Is
known TO the United States second,
the Contraband trade already men
toned. especially in war materials, ON
neutral vessels
Regarding the latter point, Ger
many would fHiu hope that the Unit
ed States after further consideration
win come to the conclusion correspond
ing 10 the spirit Of real neutrality re
gurdIug to first point
The secret order of the British
admiralty, recommending to British
merchant ships the use Of neutral
flngs has been communicated by Ger
many to the United States and con.
firmed by communication with the
British foreign office which designates
this procedure as entirely unobjeC-
tionahlc and I'm accordance with Brit
ISL law British merchant shipping
Immediately followed this advice, as
doubtless is known to the American
government from the incidents Of the
. IusituuiA and Laerles
Arm Merchant Ships.
Moreover, the British government
| has supplied arms tn British merchant
ships and instructed them fOrcihly TO
resist German submarines In these
circumstance, II would be- very difn.
cult for submarines to recognize neu
/ |tral merchant ships. for search In most
casr~ cannot bee undertaken. seeing
that In the ease Of disguised British
ship from which an uttHck may be- cN.
pcrtrd the searching party and the
submarine would hc cNposcd to de.
stucliUu
Great Britain then wa. I'm "A posi-
tiuu to make the German measures II.
u~ory II the British merchant fleet
Persisted In the misuse " neutral
flags aud neutral ships 1t is not other.
wise recognized beyond doubt Ger.
many however, being In state Of
necessity, where In she was placed by
violation Of law, must render effective
her measures In all circumstances In
order 10 compel her adversary ia
methods Of warfare corresponding
with international law and so 10 re-
store the freedom NJ the seas for
which Germany nt ALI time Is the de-
fender aud for which she today Is
fighting
Germany therefore reJOiCes that
the United States has made represen
lHtions to Great Britain regarding IN,
Illegal use Of their flag and eXpresscs
the expectation that this procedure
will force Great Britain 10 respect
the American flag In the future. In
Ithis expectation commanders of Ger
man submarines have been instructed
us already mentioned IN the note Of
February I 10 refrain from violent
O. action against American merchant
vessels so far us these can be recOg
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