Evening star., 1915-02-15
DECLARES SUBMARINE
BLOCKADE RETALIAT0RY
Ordered by Berlin as Reprisal for
English Violations of Inter
national Law
CITES NEUTRAL FLAG ABUSES
Asks Non-Belligerent Vessels to Sail
Via North of Scotland, as Foes
Merchantmen Are Arm
ing to Fight.

Count BernStOrH, the herman
ambassador, today presented to
the State Department note from
his government announcing that
Germany stands ready to consider
receding from its announced in
tention 'of attacking British mer-
chantmen if Great Britain will
withdraw its efforts to prevent
foodstuffs from going to Germany
for the civilian population.
The note declares that Germany's
plan to attack British merchantmen
was a retaliatory measure. adopted be-
cause of the alleged violation of in
ternational law by Great Britain in
population of Germany. and that the
latter government is ready to with
draw from its purpose as expressed In
the naval war zone decree, as far as
1t applies to merchant vessels, as soon
as Great Britain, either of its own vo-
lition or as a result of representations
from the neutrals. expresses her Will
ingnesS to return to the usual prac-
tices of international law on the ques-
tion of foodstuffs.
Says British Ships Armed.
The German note adds that the Ber-
lin government has information that
English merchant vessels are being
armed ard have orders to sail in
groups for protection. and, further.
that they would try to sink subma-
rines. 1t declared that there was now
no question of searching them. but the
result would be that German ships
would fight them, because they are
now held to be warships.
The note declares further that Great
Britain, according to the information of
Germany. intended to use neutral flags,
and that therefore neutral shipping
would be in danger in the war zone IL
was urged. therefore. that meanwhile
neutral shipping observe the request
of Germany and go around the north OF
Scotland in the course which had been
declared outside the war zone.
Not a Reply to U. S. Note.
II was stated that the note received
by the aglba ssador today from his for
eign Office and promptly carried by him
personally 10 the State Department
was not reply to the recent America n
note to Germany in regard to the war
zone decree \ more comprehensive
and detailed reply to that conmunica- =
tion is expected soon, although it was
not known officially here when it might
be looked for.
Today's note from Germany. it was
pointed out, constitutes a sort of in
termediary reply. possibly presented to
this government because of the fact
that the date when the war zone de-
cree goes into effect-February Isis
% close at hand
Gerard to Explain to Kaiser.
Press reports announcing that the
':erman emperor had invited Ambas-
sador Gerard to confer with him at the
battle front were read with keen inter
est by officials of the United States
government.
1t was believed here that the ambas-
sador might explain at length the
American viewpoint, as he is re-
with the imperial chancellor i'm
mediately after the note was pre-
sented at the foreign office. In many
quarters II was supposed that one
Of the chief purposes of the infor-
NAL conference with Ambassador
Gerard was to elicit from the Amer
fcan government some understanding
as TO its position regarding shipme n 5
of conditional contraband destined to
Germany's civilian population.
Germany's Attitude Toward o. S.
Il became known today that Count
Won Bernstorn. German ambassador
pointed out to Secretary Bryan that
Germany desired to encourage Ameri-
can shipping. This was clearly shown
by his government. the ambassador as
serted. when shortly after the begin
ming of the war Germany expressed its
Willingness to accept The declaration
of London as the law of the seas, ap-
plicable during the war
1T was Great Britain he told the
Secretary, who had declined the sug-
gestions of the United States that the
declaration Of London be adopted by
belligerents and neutrals, thereby com
pelling the United States TO announce
its purpose of being guided by the
general International law on the sub
5ect of naval war"
British REGARD u. S, Note