The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-10
BRAZIL PLACES RESPONSIBILITY
 UPON GERMANY
Reply to Blockade Note Says That Government
 Will Not Accept Decree.

Rio JanAiro, Feb. 10-The note
 handed to the German secretary for
 foreign affairs by the Brazilian min ister in Berlin in reply to Germany s
 declaration of unrestricted submar- inc warfare was made public here to-
 day, as follows:
 "I have transmitted to my govern ment by telegraph your letter of Feb.
 8, in which your excellency informed me of the resolution of the German imperial government to blockade Great Britain, it's islands, the littoral of France and Italy and the eastern Mediterranean by submarines which would commence operations on Feb. l. Your letter stated that the sub- marines would prevent all maritime traffic in the zone above mentioned, abandoning all restrictions observed up to the present in the employment of means for sea fighting and would use every military resource capable of the destruction of the ships.
 ''The letter of your excellency said further that the German government, having confidence that the govern ment of Brazil would appreciate the reasons for the methods of war which Germany was forced to take on ac- count of the actual circumstances, hope that Brazilian ships would be warned of the danger they ran if they navigated the interdicted zones, the same as passengers or merchan- disc on board any other ships of com merce, neutral or otherwise.
 "I have just been directed. to in- form your excellency that the federal government has the greatest desire not to see modified the actual situa- ton, as long as the war lasts, sit uation in which Brazil has imposed upon itself the rigorous observance of the laws of neutrality since the of hostilities between nations with whom she has had friendly relations. My government has always observed this neutrality while reserving to itself the right which belongs to it and which it has always been accustomed to exercise, of action in those cases where Brazil ian interests are at stake.
 ''The unexpected communication we have just received announcing a blockade of wide extent of countries with which Brazil is continually in economic relation with foreign and Brazilian shipping, has produced justified impression through the i'm intimation it contains of the unjust sacrifice of lives, the destruc- ton of property and wholesale dis turbance of commercial relations
 'In these circumstances and while observing always and invariably the same principles, the Brazilian govern ment, having examined the ternor of the German note, declares that it can not accept as effective the blockade which has just been suddenly decreed by the imperial government. Be- cause of the means employed to re- a1ize this blockade, the extent of the zones, the absence of all including the failure of ships, and the announced intention of using every military me.-ss or uc- struction 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 established for operations of this nature.
 For these reasons the Brazilian government, in spite of it's sincere md keen desire to avoid any dis | agreement with the nations at war, with whom it is on friendly terms. believes to be it's duty to protest against this blockade and consequent 1 y to leave entirely with the imperial i Herman government the responsibil- | ity for all acts which will involve