The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-11
SAYS ENGLAND FORCED
VIOLATION OF LAW
Viewpoint Is That Great Britain Refused to Abide by
Declaration of London. Attempted to Starve Out German
Nation and Compelled Germany to Have Reprsa1s.


Washington. May I0.--tserlnany
would Hike To decker with the
United States regarding her sub
marine attacks on American life
and property. The basts of the
bargain which Germany would
like TO make Is this:
That Germany will abandon her
submarine operations involving
losses to neutrals IL Great Britain
viii permit foodstuffs To enter
Germany.
The views Of Germany In this re-
gard are known 10 officials OF the state
Department, though there has not yet
been any formal communication on
the subject TIL prediction was made
here today in a quarter which would
be exceptionally we'll Informed that
at tire proper moment the German
Government will be found presenting
officially its proposals for trade with
the United States.
These proposals cannot properly be
understood unless the entire German
wpoint of the situation created py
the submarine operations Is set forth
and contrasted y tth the viewpoint or
confronting the American people OBJ
v!ousiy requires that the views be
presented as clearly as possible, they
are given here without comment, SO
readers of The virginian may have be-
fore them the principal arguments OF
both sides In this worid-stirtng eontro-
versy. A~A
The German Contention.
Here il the German side as obtain
ed authenticity here:
At the beginning or the war tne
United States proposed TO the pei
.lIserents that the declaration of Lon
don be accepted as the rules for ths
war Germany accepted. but Great
britain Insisted On departures from ~.
and the United States withdrew It's
suggestion.
Great Britain thereafter declared
war zone in the North Sea in vioiauon
OF International law. subsequently
she prevented the importation OF fooo-
stuffs for the civil population OF Ger
many. and tried 10 starve 6o.oee,ooo
people In violation OF the declaration
of London and international law.
Germany, therefore. undertook
rcprisaIs in the form Of sub
ish shipping. and the carrying
OF contrahand to the allies. These
reprisais will go ON until Great
Britain returns to the observance
OF international law, when Ger
many will be willing TO abandon
them. This Germany already has
repeAteslly declared. Germany
40 informed the American govern
mcnt, but Great Britain refused
! 10 accept the suggestion made
/ Jointly by the United States 10
Great Britain and TO Germany,
| while Germany did accept them
ha taken mn
/ again BY the United States or
Great Britain at any time, ana
once mutual respect Tor intcrna-
| ttonal law has been restored, the
| frst step toward peace viii have
| been made.
Doesn't Claim 10 be Obcyfng Law
| II il not claimed that Germany Ii
observing international law In hef
submarine operations. Germany con-
sidsrs that law has been cast to the
winds by her enemies. But Germany
| is willing to 60 back to the law II
| her enemies will permit the tmporta-
| ton Of foodstuffs into Germany. Ger
many feels that she 10 Justified, how
ever. In doing anything such as her
submarine operations in order to COM
| pei return to law.
1t is true neutrals are suffering from
these operations, but that Ia not Ger
many's fault. AZ It has issued a warm
| ing to neutral ships to keep out OF the
war zone and has warned neutral
passengers to keep Of British ships.
IF England deprfves her civil popula-
ton OF food. Germany intends to de-
prive England, as far as possible. of
the war supplies she Is getting from
neutrals.
The war has become war OF sup
piles. Were the allies cut of from
outside sources OF supply. Germany
wuufti soon defeat Them. Great Bri-
tain has coerced all the neutrals ex-
cept the United States into accept
| ing the cutting on Of Germany from
| Outside sources OF foods. Germany
will then, il she can, cut England from
her supplies until observance of Law
! is restored, and neutrals cannot OBJ
ject to the one policy more than they
object to the other. Which is the
| more humane, asks Germany, trying
+, TO starve 10000. 600 people. or torpe-
| doing ships carrying contraband OF
war? England hopes to make Ger
many yield BY starving her, cnt; Ger
mans submarine operations are al
reeted tosthe purpose of making Eng
Hand yield to law.
Done Only After Repeated warnings
All that has been done has been
-