Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-20
GERMANS SHIFT
EMbARG0b BLAME
Bernstorff at Capitol to Ex-
plain Reply to U. S.
Protest.
EMPHASIZES VIEW
OF HIS GOVERNMENT
Great eritain's Reply to Use Of Flag on
English Ships Also Reeeived-Use
Held to Be Common and Civil War
Incident Pointed to as Proof-Wii-
heImina's Cargo to Go to Prize Court
and Declared contraband.

Washington, Feb. 20.--OmiClal texts
of Germany's reply to the American
note on the naval war zone and Great
Brtains replies to the American note
on the use of the American flag and
the Wilhelmina case all arrived at the
state department today.
Count Bernstorff, the German ann
bassador, conferred at the state de-
partment with Secretary Bryan and
Councillor Lansing. While neither the
ambassador nor the American officials
indicated the exact object of their talk,
the ambassador said he desired to em-
phasize the view of his government
that Germany was not to blame for
the present situation around the Brit
ish Isles. He reiterated his contention
that Great Britain was responsible.
Goes Before Cabinet.
The German reply, delivered by the
Berlin foreign office three lays ago to
Ambassador Gerard, had been delayed
in transmission. 1t was at once con-
verted from the diplomatic code and
sent to the White House TO be laid
before the president, who. however,
already had been informed of its con-
tents by Mr.. Gerard.
With the official text at hand. how
ever, the president and his advisers
will begin formal consideration Of Ger
many's reply to the warning Of the
United States against destruction Of
American ships or lives Of the naval
war zones about the British Isles.
Generally the tone Of the German
note has been regarded as friendly.
Two Cases Intsrmixsd.
Great Ryitain's reply SO the repre-
sentations on the use of the American
flag bears on the national view of the
German reply and the next steps with
negotiations with Berlin, for in expect
ing Germany to identify American
ships before attacking them by sub
marines, the United States is anxious
there shall be no general use of the
American flag by foreign vessels.
The state department is willing to let
the Wilhelmina case ne aGjEdicated by
the prize court and thus lay the legal
for other proceedings Of
like character.
Germany Has Kick.
Germany and Austria thru their am
bassadors here complained to the state
department today that submarines
were being built in the United States
for Great Britain and shipped in parts
to Canada.
In statement on the subject the
Germany embassy says:
The plants of Bethlehem and the
Union Iron Works at San Francisco
are, according to relia Die information
sending the component parts Of sub
marines ordered by the British gov.
ernment to Canada. Submagines for
England also are being built at Boston
and Seattle.
Now Up to United States.
The comparatively prompt replies
fr ON London and Berlin again places
on the state department the RESPONSE
bilities for the next steps in negotia-
tions.
The impression prevails that the
British reply will be regarded as COM
pletely responsive. The opinion is
based upon the fact that the American
note dealt with the general use of the
flag by British merchantmen. and the
British reply states the admiralty had
duS kScu duy StHcIdl uSe VI lIle nag
and had not suggested it's use by ME
Lusitania.
The British reply on the Wilhelmina
case probably will stop further ex-
changes until prize court has acted.
The American note was based on the
right Of a neutral to ship food to the
civil population of a billigerent. The
British reply does not deny that by
making the point that all German
males are practically part of the Ger
man army has complexed the issues
and promises protracted negotiations.
AS to the rejoinder the American gov
ernment might make to the German
reply on the war zone, some officials
expect the state department will con1
tent itself with the warning in the or
iginal note to Germany.