The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-02-15
u. S. NOT TO PAR
LEY WITH GERMANY
NO NEGOTIATIONS CONSIDERED
UNTIL WITHDRAWAL OF
U-BOAT POLICY
MATTER NOW UP TOIkAlSER
TEUTONS MUST RENEW PLEDGE
OF MAYA BEFORE ACTION
WILL FOLLOW.

Washington. FeD.. l3.-freSluei,
Wilson yesterday formally notifiei
Ger..any that the United States cal
enter into no negotiations tending tt
avert an. armed clash between the two
nations until the new U-Boat decree
is withdrawn.
The Presidents communication
sent through Swiss Minister Ritter
representing the German government
in the United States, was made public
by the State department after it had
been admitted overtures had been re-
ceived from the German government.
This government declared it would
gladly discuss anything with Germany
but only in event Germany with
draws her U-Boat decree of January
81 and renews her pledges of May 4th
last in the Sussex case.
Germany proposes to negotiate tor
the safety of American shipping pro-
vided the Commercial blockade" of
England is not interferred with.
In reply this government said:
at would gladly discuss with the
German government any question 1t
might propose for discussion if it
withdraws it's U-Bot decree"
In admitting that it had received a
suggestion from the German govern
ment via the Swiss minister the state
department gave out the following
statement:
"In view of the appearance in the
newspapers of February II of d report
that Germany was initiating negotia-
lions with the United States III regard
to the submarine warfare, the Depart
ment of State makes the following
statement:
"a suggestion was made orally to
the Department of State last Satur-
day afternoon by the minister Of
Switzerland that the German govern
ment is willing to negotiate with the
United States provided that the COM
mercial blockade against England
would not be intereferred with"
At the request of the secretary of
the state this suggestion was made in
writing and presented to him by the
Swiss minister.
The communication is as follows:
Memorandum = The Swiss
government has been requested by
the German government to say
that the latter is now, as before
willing to negotiate, formally or
Informally with the United States
provided that the commercial
blockade against England will
not be broken thereby.
"(Signed) 2. RITTER
"This memorandum was given i'm
nediate consideration and the follow
ing reply was dispatched:
"'My Dear Mr.. Minister: am
requested by the President to say
to you in acknowledging the MEM
orandum which you were kind
enough to send me On the 18th
inst, that the government of the
United States would gladly dis
cuss with the German govern
Ament any question it might pro-
pose for discussion were it to
Withdraw it's proclamation of the
3-st of January, in which, sud-
denly and without previous infor-
nation of any kind, it cancelled
the assurance which it had given
this government on the 4th of
May last, but it does not feel that
it can enter into any discussion
with the German government
concerning the policy Of subma-
rine warfare against neutrals
which it is now pursuing unless
and until the German government
renews its assurance of the 4th of
May and acts upon the assurance,
I am, my dear minister, ETC."
"'To His Excellency, DR.. Paul
Ritter, minister of Switzerland
No other exchange on this sub
ject has taken place between this gov
and any other government or persons.