New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
TEXT OF WAR ZONE
DECREE GIVEN OUT
Berlin Issues Full Memo
randum on Retaliation
Against England.

Berlin, Feb. IVA Wireless W 10Y
Vile. n. Veterinary to-day of1ciaiiy
gave out the full text Of THE Mem
, o-ardar, of the Imperial German Gov
ornmert Concerning Retaliation Against
the Measures Taken by England, IN
Violation Of international Law, to stop
Neutral Sea Commerce with Der-
many" 1t follows:
"since the beginning of the present
war Great Britain has carried on
mercantile warfare against Germany
in vay that defies all the principles
of international law. II is true that
the British government has announcer
in a number of DEGREES the LONDON
Declaration concerning naval warfare
% he binding on its naval forces, but
in reality she has renounced the
declaration in its most important par
ticulars. although her own delegates at
the London Conference on Naval war
fare had recognized its conclusion TO
he valid as international law.
"The British government has put
number of articles in the list OF contra
hand which are not, or at most are
only indirectly, useful for military
nurposes. and therefore, according to
the London Declaration as wei as &c
cording to the universally recogh,Zeu
rules Of international law, may ho' oe
designated as contraband'
Disregards Contraband Rules.
"She has. further, actually abolished
.ha distinrtion between absolute and
reIatiye contraband, inasmuch as she
has subjected TO capture all artcles
~ relstiye contraband intended 1or
Germany, without reference TO the
barbor in which they are TO be un-
loaded or to the hostile or peacetui
use to which they are to be put,
"Sbe does not even hesitate to vio-
1a,e tho Declaration of Paris, as her
navsl forces have seized on neutral
sbins German property that was not
contraba1d, in violation OF her own
decrees concerning the London Declara-
tion. She has further, through ner
naval forces, taken from neutral ships
numerous Germans liable to military
service and has made them prisoners
Of war.
"Finallv. she has declared the entire
North Sea TO be an area Of war, and, II
she has not made impossible the
massage of neutral shipping through
the sea between Scotland and Nor,
wav. has rendered it SO difficult and
so dangerous that she has to certain
extent effected blockade OF neutral
coasts and neutral ports, in violation
of all international law.
Tries to Starve Germany.
"All these measures have the OBJ,
vious purpose. through the illegai
paralyzation of Legitimate neutral
commerce, not only TO strike at the
German military strength, but also q,
the economic life OF Germany ano
fnally. By starvation, TO doom the en-
tire population Of Germany 10 oe-
"Tbe neutral powers have generally
acouiesced in the steps taken oy tne
British government. Especialiy my
bave not succeeded in inducing the
british government TO restore the ger,
man individuals and properly se'~eD
in violation Of internationai Jaw
AIN certain directions they nave slso
aided the British measures "nlen are
irreconcilable with she freedom Oh .he
.ss.' .ea in that they nave, obviously under
,be pressure OF England, hindered by
roesns 1ne ~ export and transit embargoess
in the transit Of wares for peaeetu'
purposes to Germany
Neutral Powers Deaf.
"The German government has in vain
csIled he attention Of neutral powers
70 the fact that it must face the CUES
ton whether it can longer perseyere IN
its strict Observance Of the rules OF
r. Jondon declaration IL Great Brit
ain continues its course and the neu-
trail powers continue 10 acquiesce IN
these violations Of neutrality 10 the
detriment OF Germany.
"For her violations OF international
law England pleads the vital interests
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