Evening star., 1915-02-13
GERMANS VENUS.
NOTE AS FRIENDLY
Officials Make Brief Comment
After Gerard Delivers
Document.
PAPERS TAKE VARYING
VIEWS OF SITUATION
Support Of American Demands by
Neutral Nations Indicated
by Articles.

by Articles.
BERLIN, February 13, via London
James W. Gerard. the American ambas-
sador. called on Gottlieb Won Jagow. the
German foreign secretary. last even
Ing and presented to him &he American
governments note concerning the Ger
man sea war zone proclamation.
The delivery of the note was fol-
lowed by a conference between Mr..
Gerard and the foreign minister which
lasted for three quarters of an hour
Judging from the length of the am
bassador's stay at the foreign office the
communication evidently was con-
sidered of importance.
Called Friendly Document.
Nothing concerning the contents of
the note has yet been given out by
any competent authority here. Officials
are not ready to comment on it beyond
stating that the communication is
"couched in the friendliest spirit and
is a thoroughly friendly document"
The German reply to Washington will
be made in due course and, if the
views repeatedly expressed in respon-
sible quarters may be taken as a cri
terion, 1t probably will point out that
the German measure in making the
seas around Great Britain a war zone
Is fully justified answer to the Brit
ish attempt to starve out the German
nation. women and children as we'll as
soldiers"
1t is believed also that the note will
suggest that If the United States de-
sires a mitigation of Germany's naval
campaign it would be well to induce
Great Britain to lift her embargo on
foodstuffs bound for Germany, which
in the German Interpretation of inter
national law. is entirely illegal and un-
justified. 1t will be added, 1T is be-
lieved. that if Great Britain persists
in her embargo the campaign against
hostile merchantmen will go forward
with full severity.
Sees Breach of Neutrality.
The Berlin newspapers print dis
patch from London stating that the
American note to Germany concerning
the admiralty's sea war zone contains
clear intimation that an attack on
any ship carrying the American flag.
without a previous inquiry as to it's
right to fly the flag. would lead to COM
plfcatfons of a most serious character.
The Kreuz Zeitung commenting on
this says:
This note would amount to a breach
of neutrality unless America informed
Great Britain that complications of
most serious character would result
from the misuse of the American flag"
Disappointment Voiced.
Disappointment that neutral powers
have not asked specific guarantees
from England that she desist from the
misuse of neutral flags is expressed by
the Kreuz Zeitung. which says such
guarantees are improba BILE now, since
the most powerful neutral has not
even protested decidedly. The paper
asserts that sales of arms and ammu-
milton, not to mention ampler support
be reconciled with President Wilson's
unobjectionable Interpretation of true
neutrality at the beginning of the war.
The kreuz Zeitung declares that al
though Great Britain's reply to the
protest of the United States complaint
concerning the detention of merchant
ships was almost wholly negative. il
was accepted quietly in America, as is
the present misuse of the flag.
Paper Asks Question.
The paper then asks:
rs it any wonder that England now
shows not the slightest consideration
for the United States. as is illustrated
already by the seizure of the Wilhel
its neutrality by accepting Germanys
declaration of submarine warfare in
the same spirit as England's abuse of
neutral flags"
The text of the American note mas
not vet been issued to the German
press and the comment up to the pres
ent time has been based entirely on
news agency dispatches from Wash
ington, giving brief synopsis or the
communication.
The Koelnische Zeitung has repub-
lished prominently from the Tages lei
tung an article by Count Won Revent-
low, the naval critic, concerning Ger
many's declaration of marine war
zone around the British Isles In this
article Count Won Reventlow refers to
the report that the Washington gov
eminent intended to ask how Germany
purposed to make neutral shipping safe
in these waters, and says:
This marine war zone was an
nounced by the German government
for the very reason that safety of
navigation therein cannot be guaran-
teed.
Enter at Own Risk.
The vessels of neutrals enter upon
this war zone only at their own risk
This condition of affairs and the con-
sequences 1t may bring after February
is cannot be changed or Influenced by
any representations or demands from
Washington. 1t is equally out of the
question that the identity of every ship
with a neutral flag be ascertained. A
submarine mine cannot learn this
identity. and such course is equally
impossible for a submarine boat"
In concluding his article Count Won
Reventlow saws:
THE German declaration in itself
must furnish proof to Americans that
the possible destruction of American
ships after February IS cannot afford
the Washington government any
ground for complaint of any nature
against the German government, but
that the American government and the
shippers themselves must bear the re-
sponsibility If they permit their ves-
sells to enter this war zone.
I'VE gather the impression here from
expressions reaching Germany from
across the water that If the American
people believe they can handle the
German government as they desire by
pressure and threats they will fool
themselves"
British Will Have No