Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-10
BRAZIL PROTESTS
U-B0AT WARFARE
Informs Germany Blockade
Methods Is Contrary to Rules
for Military Operations.
NOTE TO U. S. PRESIDENT

BY the AsSoc1dteO Pre8S.
RIO JANEIRO, February 10.-The
note handed to the German secretary Of
foreign affairs by the Brazilian min
lister at Berlin. in reply to Germany's
declaration Of the resumption of unre-
stricted submarine warfare, was made
public here today. The text is as fol-
lows:
II have transmitted to my government
by telegraph your letter Of February 3.
in which your excellency informed me
of the resolution of the German i'm
peria1 government to blockade Great
Britain. it's islands, the littoral of
France and Italy and the eastern Medi-
terranean by submarines. which would
commence operations February l. Your
letter stated that the submarines would
prevent all maritime traffic in the zones
above mentioned, abandoning all re-
strictions observed up to the present In
the employment Of means for sea light
ing and would use every military re-
source capable of the destruction OF
ships.
Suggested Warning to Ships.
THE letter of your excellency said
further that the German government,
having confidence that the government
of Brazil will appreciate the reasons
for the methods of war which Germany
was forced to take on account Of the
actual circumstances. hope that Bra
lillian ships would be warned of the
danger they ran If they navigated the
interdicted zones, the same as passen-
gers or merchandise on board any other
ship of commerce, neutral or other
wise.
II have lust been directed to inform
YOUR excellency that the federal gov
eminent has the greatest desire not to
see modified the actual situation, as
long as the war lasts, situation IN
which Brazil has imposed upon itself
the rigorous observance of the laws OF
neutrality since the commencement OF
hostilities between nations with whom
she has had friendly relations. My gov
eminent has always observed this neu-
trality while reserving to itself the
right, which belongs to it and which 1t
has always been accustomed to exercise,
Of action in those cases where Brazilian
interests are at stake. The uneXpect-
ed communication we have just re-
ceived announcing blockade or Wide
extent of country with which Brazil Is
continually in economic relations by
foreign and Brazilian shipping mas
produced a justified and profound I'M
preston through the imminent menace
which it contains of the unjust sacrlnce
and the wholesale disturbance OF COM
mercial transactions.
Blockade Suddenly Decreed."
I'm such circumstances. and while OBJ
serving always and invariably the same
principles, the Brazilian government.
after having examined the tenor of the
German note, declares that 1t cannot
accept as effective the blockade which
has just been suddenly decreed by the
imperial government Because OF the
means employed to realize this block
ade the extent of the interdicted zones.
the absence of all restrictions, includ-
ing the failure of warning for even
neutral menaced ships, and the an
nounced intention of using every mill
tary means of destruction of no matter
what character, such a blockade would
neither be regular nor effective and
would be contrary to the principles OF
law and the conventional rules estab-
nature.
Brazils Duty to Protest.
For these reasons the Brazilian gov
eminent, in spite of its sincere and keen
desire to avoid any disagreement with
the nations at war, with whom 1t is on
friendly terms, believes to be it's duty
to protest against this blockade, and
consequently to leave entirely with the
imperial German government the re-
sponsibility for all acts which will in
volve Brazilian citizens, merchandise or
ships, and which are proven to have
been committed in disregard of the
recognized principles of international
law and of the conventions signed by
Brazil and Germany"
Reply to President Wilson.
Foreign Minister Lauro Muller. in
replying to President Wilson's sugges-
ton that other neutral nations take the
same position as the United States in
respect to the German submarine cam
paign, will inform Washington that
Brazil has declared to Germany that
she does not recognize the submarine
blockade as effective. The note will
further say that Brazil leaves with Ger
many the responsibility for all acts
from which Brazilian merchantmen may
suffer in violation of international law.