New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-02
BernstOrff Now Delivers
Warning Prepared Be-
fore January %
WILL SINK ALL SHIPS
MET IN BARRED ZONE
Memorandum" Pleads
Allies Peace Refusal
Forces Reputation

Washington, Feb. IA second memo.
randum delivered yesterday with the
German note was made oublic late to-
day by the State Department. It diff
fers in some respects from the sub
stance of the note itself.
The understanding is that it was
prepared at the German Embassy on
instructions from Berlin prior to Presi-
dent Wilson's peace address to the SEN
ate on January % and withheld then on
account of the address. When Count
Won Bernstorff received the note and
memorandum yesterday from Berlin he
decided to deliver via, them the orig
inal document prepared by him.
The German memorandum follows:
after bluntly refusing Germany 5
peace offer, the Entente Powers stated
in their note addressed to the Amerl-
can government that they are deter
mined TO continue the war to deprive
Germany Of German provinces in the
west and east, TO destroy Austrla-Hun-
gary and to annihilste Turkey.
"ln waging war with such aims. the
Entente allies are violating all rules OF
international law, AS they prevent the
legitimate trade of neutrals with the
Central Powers, and OF the neutrals
among themselves. Germany has, so
far, not made unrestricted use OF the
weapon which she possesses in her
submarines.
"Since the Entente Powers. however
have made it impossible TO come to an
understanding based upon equality Of
rights of all nations, as proposed by
the Central Powers, and have instead
declared only such peace 10 be pos
sible which shall be dictated by tho
Entente Allies, and shall result in the
destruction and the humiliation Of the
Central Powers, Germany is unable
further to forego the full use OF her
submarines.
"Thc Imperial government, therefore,
does not doubt that the government or
the United States will understand the
situation thus forced upon Germany by
Entente Allies brutal methods of war
and by their determination TO destroy
the Central Powers, and that the gov
eminent Of the United States will fur
Their realize that the now openly dis
closed intention of the Entente Allies
gives back to Germany the freedom of
action which she reserved in her note
addressed to the government Of the
United States on May 4. 1916.
Under these circumstances Germany
will meet the illegal measures of her
enemies by forcibly preventing, after
February /, 1917, in zone around
Great Britain, France, Italy and in the
eastern Mediterranean, all navigation,
hat of neutrals included, from and to
England. and from and TO France, etc,
etc. All ships met within that zone
will be sunk.
THE Imperial government is con-
fident that this measure VIII result IN
n speedy termination Of the war and
in the restoration of peace which the
government Of the United States has
so much at heart. Like the govern
ment of the United States, Germany
and her allies had hoped TO reach this
goal by negotiations.
"Now that the war, through the fault
Of Germany's enemies, has to be con-
tinued, the Imperial government feels
sure that the government of the United
States will understand the necessity Of
adopting such measures as are destined