The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-20

TEXT OF CORRESPONDENCE BE-
TWEEN UNITED STATES AND
BELLIGERENTS Is CIV.
EN OUT.
England and France Will blockade
Only European Waters to German
Trade-Prcsidcnt Wilson Will Prob
ably Protest.

Washington, March 17.-Six diplo-
matte notes were made public tonight
by the State department, constituting
the entire correspondence of the last
few weeks between the Cnited States
and Germany, and between the United
States and Great Britain and France,
relative to the cessation Of submarine
attacks on merchant ships, the ship
ment of conditional contraband and
foodstuffs to civilians, the use of neu-
trail flags by belligerent merchantmen,
the removal of mines and the procla-
nation of a virtual blockade by the
allies against Germany.
The communications revealed that
the United States realizing the diff
culties Of the allies maintaining an eff
fective blockade Of Germany by a
close guard of the coasts on account
of the activity of submarines, asked
that "a radius Of activity" be defined.
Great Britain and France replied with
the announcement that the operations
of blockade would not be conducted
outside European waters, including
the Mediterranean"
While Germany agreed, it is disclos-
ed to abandon her submarine attacks
on mercantile of any flag except
when they resist visit or search, pro-
vided foodstuffs were permitted to
reach her civilian population, Great
Britain and her allies rejected the
proposal originally made by the Unit
ed States in an effort to bring the bel
ligerents into an arrangement which
would safeguard the interests Of neu-
trails.
Furthermore. the documents show
that the United States asked Great
Britain and France whether the en-
barge on all commerce between Ger
many and neutral countries was to be
carried out under the rules Of a block
ade or by interference with ships and
cargoes "as If no blockade existed"
the two together presenting in the
view of the American -vernment
proposed course of action previously
unknown to international law.
The answers from Great Britain
and France reveal for the first time
tha' Tie allies officially rcgerded their
policy as "nlockad@, but desire H.
refrain from exercising III" rights Of
hcuiE, rents under blocitadc su5stl-
tuting procedure In prize courts and
compensation through sale Of the de-
tanned merchandise.
The definition of radius of ac-
tivity" for the allied fleet in Euro
pean waters. including the Mediter-
ranean, is the first intimation of the
It's limits were not given more exact
ly, the allies claim, because Ger
many was equally indentinite in
proclaiming all the waters suround-
ing Great Britain and ireland a war
zone"
The publishing Of the correspond
ence cleans the slate Of diplomatic
notes and leaves the United States
confronted with the question OF
whether or not it will acquiesce in the
form Of blockade announced by the
allies or offer protest. President Will
son has indicated that a strong pro-
test will be made.
The notes are: The failure OF the
United States to bring the belligerents
into an agreement on the use of sub
marines and mines, the fixing OF a
definite rule governing shipments of
conditional contraband to the civilian
population of belligcrcnt and the
abandonment of neutral flags as a
ruse Of war.
Officials admitted being somewhat
puzzled over the British rejection of
the proposals made by the United
States in this connection. They OBJ
served a statement in the British re-
ply to the American note which is not
| borne out by comparison with the
German note. The British reply in
reference to the American commune
cation:
THE reply of the German govern
ment to this note has been published
and it is not understood from the re-
ply that the German government is
prepared to abandon the practice OF
sinking British merchant vessels by
submarines"
What Germany said officially was a.
| follows:
The German government would
undertake not to use their Subma-