New-York tribune., 1916-05-07
CECIL DEFENDS
SEA POLICY
British Minister Ridi-
culeS Peace Hint
in German Note.

London, May 6.--Great Britain will
not alter her blockade as the result
of Germany's note to the United States.
This was the intimation given by Lord
Robert Cecil, Minister of War Trade
and Under Secretary for Foreign AZ
fairs, in a statement issued in behalf
of the Foreign Office to-day. He denies
the claim of its illegality and cited
Bismarck and Caprivi as upholding
England's course.
The Allies are resolved to press the
blockade with the utmost rigor, Lord
Cecil declared. and neither German
whining nor German promises would
alter their course. He ridiculed the
humanitarian arguments advanced in
the note, and compared the Aliei
methods of warfare, with their respect
for neutral rights, with the murderous
policy of the Germans.
The Inconsistency OF the Chancellor's
statement to the Reichstag about the
abundance of food in Germany was
compared with the starvation plea and
mgnominious surrender" advanced in
the note.
Lord Cecil refused TO take Germsny's
peace plea seriously.
Germans Fear Defeat.
"Of Germany's peace overtures,' he
declared, "if such they are TO be called,
will say little. 1t was only in last
December that their Chancellor de-
clared that we believed it TO be in our
interests to attribute falsely to them
peace proposals. Yet the German gov
ernment now says that twice within
the last few months Germany has an
nounced before the world her resdi-
ness to make peace. Which is the
truth?
at may be that the Germans want
peace. If so, it is because they fear
defeat. 1t may be only that they want
TO appear peaceful. For US it matters
not. Our attitude, at any rate, is un-
changed. We drew the sword unwil-
lingly. We shall sheathe it gladly. But
we should be untrue TO our trust, we
should be betraying civilization, il we
abandoned our task until we have re-
established in Europe the supremacy
of law, the sanctity of treaties and the
right OF all nations, great and small,
70 live their lives, TO fulfil their des-
TIMES, free from the intolerable men
ace of Prussian militarism.
"The reply Of the German govern
ment 10 the American note Of April 70
respectlng submarine warfare is not q
communication upon which any general
comment can properly be made in this
country. as the questions al issue con-
ern the United States and Germany.
and any interference by third party
would be presumptuous.
"Since. however, the German note
contains certain misstatements OF fact
respecting the actions OF Great Britain,
the following observations may not be
thought out Of place. The German gov
ernment states that they have so far
as is possible instituted far-reach-
ing restraint upon the use of the sub
marine weapon solely in consideration
! OF neutral interests, and in spite Of
the fact that these restrictions were
necessarily OF advantage 20 Germany's
enemies.
Challenges Comparison Of Facts.
"It is alleged that no such considera-
ton has ever been shown 20 neutrals
By Great Britain and her Allies.
"Do the facts bear out these asser-
tions! So far as is known, the meas
ures taken by Great Britain against
! German trade have cost no neutral his
life. Great Britain maintains that they
Continued on paxe .. column