New Britain herald., 1915-02-15
Read With Interest.

l Read With Interest. | Wsshington Feb. 15.-Press re- l ports announcing that the German emperor had invited Ambassador Ge- rard to confer with him at the bat tie front were read last night with keen interest by officials of the Unit ed States government. Aside from the indication that the American note had produced an impression of su- preme importance, it was thought that the emperor had decided on a conference so quickly because only four days remain before the German admiralty's procla amation for a sub marine campaign on merchant ships goes into effect.
 It is believed here that the am- bassador might explain at length the American viewpoint, as he is reported to have done in con- ference with the imperial chan cellor immediately after the note was presented at the foreign office. Tn many quarters it was supposed that one of che chief purposes of the informal conferences with Ambassa- dor Gerard was to elicit from the American government some under standing as to it's position regarding shipments of conditional contraband destined to Germany's civilian popu- latiOn.
 Is Retaliatory Step.
 Inasmuch as the German war zone proclamation is described as a retaliatory step against the allies, because of the alleged interference by the latter with shipments of food stuffs destined for the population of o-+o of this question was admitted on all sides here. There is every reason to believe that it will be one of the chief points made by the United States in his next communication to Great Britain on the question of contraband.
 The long suppleme entary reply from the British government to the Ameri- can note of protest of December 26 had not ben transmitted in. full last night but officials expected a complete copy would be ready for their perus- al today. The British com munication is devoted almost entirely to statistics on neutral comme cree and an explanation of various detentions and seizures of American ships and . cargoes.
 At the German embassy it was said that no word had been received from Berlin to indicate how soon a reply to the American note might be looked for. -~' -
 To Encourage Shipping.
 It became known yesterday that Count Won Bernstorff, German ambas- sador pointed out to Secretary Bryan in his conference yesterday that Ger many desired to encourage American shipping. This was clearly shown by his government, the ambassador as- serted, when shortly after the begin ming of the war Germany expressed it's Willingness to accept the Declaration of London as the law of the seas ap- plicable during the war. It was Great Britain, he told the secretary, who had declined the suggestion of the United States that the Declaration of London be adopted by neutrals and belligerents, thereby compelling the United States to announce it's pur- pose of being guided by the general international law on the subject of naval war.
 Whatever suffering might come to neutral shipping as a result of the German decree declaring the waters around the British Isles to be in war zone territory after February 1, the ambassador declared would not be the fault of Germany, who, he asserted, must retaliate on Great Britain as vigorously as possible for her viola tion of international law in attempting to starve non-com batant population of Germany.
 Regrets Sharp Tone
 Berlin, Feb. IA, (Via London) The