Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-02-24
REPLY IS FRIENDLY j
GERMANY'S ANSWER TO U. 8.
PROTEST INSISTS BLOCKADE
is NECESSARY.
URGES CONVOY FOR SHIPS
Kaiser Is Ready to Confer on Safety
PIans-Commanders Told to Use
Vigilance to Spare American Boats
Objects to Sending Arms to Allies.

2O.-The reply of Germany to the pro.
test of the United States against a
blockade of British waters is couched
in the most friendly terms, but firmly
maintains the position of Germany
as already announced The answer,
which is long document, was con-
verted into code at the United States
embassy under the direction OF Am
bassador Gerard and on Thursday was
transmitted in full to Washington. d
The note explains that Germany's
proposed action is rendered necessary
by Great Britain s policy Of attempt
ing to cut OF the food supply for the
German civil population by method
never recognized in international law:
England's course in ordering mer-5
chantment to fly neutral flags and
equipping them with artillery, with or
ders to destroy submarines, the Ger:
man reply contends. renders nugatory
the right Of search. q @ :, -:35
Germany holds that she cannot
abandon that right under the stress
which England has put upon her. 5sl
Since Germany must compel the
nations with which she is at war to
return to the recognized principles Of
International Law and restore the free,
dom OF the seas, she argues that the
stand she has taken is necessary.
The note recommends that tho
United States government, send war.
ships to England to convoy merchant
vessels through the danger zone, with
the understanding that vessels thus
guarded shall carry no war supplies.
Hope is expressed that the Ameri.
can government will understand the
position in which Germany has been
placed and appreciate the reasons for
its course. N .ss&
The reply closes with an expression
Of the hope that the United States
may prevail on Great Britain ito re-
| turn to the principles Of international
law recognized prior to the outbreak
OF the war" and in particular obtain
| the observance of the declaration OF
London by belligerents opposed to
Germany. If this is done, the note
| explains, Germany would be enabled
| to import food supplies and raw ma
,terials. Germany would recognize
this, says the reply, an invaluable
service toward a more humane con.
duct of the war and would act in ac-
| cordance with the new situation thus
| created. - ~ NJ; y @f.; Il #
| Great Britain u.s., with the federation
of neutral governments, not only sup
piled with such goods as are not
contraband, but with goods which are
regarded by Great Britain, If sent. to
Germany, ,as absolute contraband.
The German government feels itself
obliged to point out with the greatest
emphasis that traffic in arms, esti-
mated at many hundreds Of millions,
is being carried on between United
States firms and Germany'ss enemies.
!. II it is formal right of neutrals to
take no steps to protect their legiti-
mate trade With Germany, and even
to allow, themselves to be Influenced
In the direction of the conscious and
willful destruction Of their trade, on
the other hand they have the perfect
right, which they unfortunately do not
exercise, to cease contraband trade,
especially in arms, with Germany's
enemies ~ ~ a.f%, "a. ~ W. 15 III
Germany is ready to deliberate with
the United States concerning any
measure which might secure the
safety of legitimate shipping OF neu.
trails in the war zone. &ts 81 -