South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-14
Count Won BernStOrff Tells
SeC'y Bryan Country Will
RetaIiate If England Does
Not Release Cargo.
FOOD NOT INTENDED
FOR KAISER'S SOLDIERS
Steps to Prevent Starvation of
Civil Population Might Re-
suit in Damage to Ameri-
CanS-FOreCaStS Attitude.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13.-Count
Son Bernstorff. the German ambassa
dor. acting under instructions from
the Berlin foreign Office. called upon
Secy Bryan today and delivered
warning TO the United States that il
the British government does not per
nit the Wiihelmina. with her cargo OF
fOodstuffs 10 go through 10 Germany
the German authorities will take steps
i'm retaliation that may indirectly
prove dangerous 10 American ship
ping
Ambassador BernstOrff urged upon
Sec'y Bryan firmly and insistently
that the United States should not ac-
quiesce in any action by Great Britain
designed 10 starve out the civil pop
ulation Of Germany.
He told the secretary that interna-
tiOnal law did not sanction the with
holding of food supplies from non
cOmbatantS in a belligerent country
The cargo of the Wilhelmina. he
said, was intended for the non-com-
batants in Germany and Germany was
willing that this cargo should be dis
tribu ed under the supervision OF
American consular agents.
Faith Not Questioned.
With Germany's agreement that the
cargo should be distributed under
American supervision Ambassador
Won Hernstorff said there would be NO
question OF Germanys good faith
which he did not think Great Britain
should question. But If Great Britain
should persist in the express determ-
inatiOn TO take the Wiihelmina and
its cargo into prize court and il the
decision of "A prize court should be
unfaVorable then Germany would be
forced TO reprisaL
ANY reprisal she might take 10 pre-
vent the starvation of her civil pop
ulation, the ambassador thought
would be fully justified.
The ambassador made il clear tha;
unless the United States did uphold
the right Of Germany TO have the
cargo distributed TO her civil popula-
tiOn under the guarantee given. the
United States would make herself re-
sponsible TO an extent for such cOnse-
.quences as might ensue through the
acts OF German reprisaI.
Forecasts Attitude.
The warning is thought 10 clearly
forecast the attitude which Germany
will take in her reply 20 the note Of
the American government on the sub
ject of the North sea war zone which
Germany declared.
1t is perfectly clear now that Ger
"a
reprisal which she may think neces-
sary TO protect her civil population
from the hardships which would be
imposed upon it under the proposed
British blockade.
Unless Great Britain agrees that
foodstuffs shipped from the United
States and other neutral countries can
be distributed in Germany under the
supervision OF the agents of the neu-
tral countries. GerS1any will do every
thing in her power 10 destroy British
shipping and viii not deem it fncum-
bent upon her to be particularly re-
gardful Of the rights Of neutrals whose
ships enter the declared North sea
war zone.
If the United States wants assur-
ance that its ships in the North sea
shall be protected from al possibility
Of danger from the operations OF Ger
man submarines then the United
States. according 10 the warning given
by Germany today. must resist the
efforts OF Great Britain 20 stop food
stuffs from going 10 the civil popula-
tion Of Germany
After leaving the state department
Count Won Bernstorff said that Ger
many had done and would do all she
reasonably could towards a fair set
tlement OF the questions at issue. He
pointed out that this government had
been informed that Germany would
see that none OF the fcod supplies en-
tering German ports would be utilized
by the German military forces. He
also emphasized the fact that the
Reichstag itself had announced that
such was the intention Of Germany.
Plan j. Indefensiblc
The ambassador said that the star
walton plan OF Great Britain was inde-
fcnsible II was new 10 modern civ
iliZed warfare.
After the call OF Ambassador Berns-
torff on Mr.. Lansing and Sec'y Bryan
distinct effort was made 20 produce
the impression on behalf of the de-
partment that mo threat was intend
ed against Germany In the recent note
10 her and that none had actually
been made"
Officials We're sOliclt0us 10 convey
the impression that the represents
uves To Germany referred to coudi-
tions that might or not occur. For
instance that III was no threat 20 saw
that Germany would be held "to "a
strict accountability" FOR an act that
might not actually occur and which
negotiations might prevent Both
notes were emphasized as being sim
ply friendly inquiries 10 ascertain
the views OF Germany and Great Brit