Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-02-16
j. s. REFUSES TO
DISCUSS U-BOAT
WAR WITH BERLIN
WILSON MAKES ANSWER TO GER
MAN GOVERNMENTS CONFER
ENcE PROPOSAL.
INSIST ON SUSSEX PLEDGE
Note Transmitted Through Swiss Min
lister Announces Firm Stand of
American Government on
Blockade Issue.

Washington, Feb 13-The state de-
partment made public memorandum
presented by DR.. Paul Ritter, Swiss
minister, acting for Germany, propos-
ing a discussion with the United
States over the new submarine cam
paign.
Germany proposes to negotiate for
the safety of American shipping, pro-
vided the commercial blockade OF
England is not interfered with.
- The American government has re-
piled that it cannot enter negotiations
unless Germany restores the Sussex
pledges and withdraws the proclama-
tion of unrestricted submarine war
fare.
The state department gave out a
statement as follows:
''In view of the appearance in the
newspapers of Feb. IL of a report that
Germany was initiating negotiations
with the United States in regard to
submarine warfare, the department of
state makes the following statement:
"a suggestion was made orally to
the department of state late Saturday
afternoon by the minister of Switzer-
land that the German government is
willing to negotiate with the United
States, provided that the commercial
blockade against England would not
be interfered with. At the request Of
the secretary Of state, this suggestion
was made in writing and presented to
him by the Swiss minister Sunday
night. The communication follows:
""The Swiss government has been
requested by the German government
to say that the latter is now, as before,
willing to negotiate, formally or in
formally, with the United States pro-
vided that the commercial blockade
against England will not be broken
thereby.
"'P Ritter
Reply to Swiss Minister.
"This memorandum was given i'm
mediate consideration and the follow
ing reply was dispatched Monday:
my dear Mr.. Minister: / am re-
quested by the president to say to you,
in acknowledging the memorandum
which you were kind enough to send
to me on the 18th instant, that the
government of the United States
would gladly discuss with the German
government any questions it might
propose for discussion, were it to with
draw its proclamations of Jan. 81, in
which, suddenly and without previous
intimation of any kind, it cancelled
the assurances which it had given this
government on May last; but that it
does not feel that it can enter into
any discussion with the German gov
eminent concerning the policy of sub
marine warfare against neutrals which
it is now pursuing unless and until
the German government renews its as
surances of May and acts upon the
assurance
mo other interchange on this sub
ject has taken place between this gov.
eminent and any other government
orSperson."
Developments indicate in the minds
of officials that the idea of confer
ence was conceived by Ambassador
Won Bernstorff that he induced DR..
Ritter, Swiss minister, to go to the
state department and make unofficial
representations and that through DR..
Ritter, Won Bernstorff's suggestions
were before the state department.
-Seventy-Two Americans Held.
A cable dispatch from Berlin says
that Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
informs correspondents that he had
requested the Swiss government to
make inquiry in Washington regarding
the status Of the crews of interned
German ships in American ports.
Pending an answer the seventy-two
Americans taken by the German raider
and brought in by the Yarrowdale,
whose release had been agreed to, are
being held in Germany, the foreign Sec
rotary stated.
eve could not consent to the release
of the Yarrowdale prisoners, which
was taken to be agreed. to week
ago." said the foreign secretary
These men had been taken off armed
merchantmen and their status had
been established. They will be liber-
ated just as soon as we learn the fate
of the German crews in American
ports"
The release OF the Yarrowdale pris-