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Show ifzoi DEGREE Replies to the Protest of the United States in Friendly Language, but Refuses to Assure the Safety of American Vessels. ADVISES THAT A ! CONVOY BE SENT Declares the Course of Great Britain Upon the I High Seas Leaves No i Other Course Open to the German Empire. ) WASHIXGTOX, Fob. IS. Ger- many "a reply to the American note of ': warning against any attacks on Amen- Ji cau vessels or lives in the new sea zones of war served to increase rather I than to diminish the concern of ofli- j; cials of tho United States government j. over possible complications, though the -friendly touc of the communication ; mado a favorable impression and gave ' sonic hope that an understanding for the protection of neutrals might yet be obtained. Officials were apprehensive over the formal stale-incut iu tho uotc that Ger- ' many disclaimed nil responsibility for what might happen to neutral vessels ! venturing in the danger areas. The ; additional warning, too, that mines would bo laid by Germany in the waters wa-ters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland was regarded by' them no! oniy as menacing to ships carrying legitimate legiti-mate cargoes, but as likely to add further fur-ther to the interruptions which American Ameri-can commerce has suVered since tho outbreak of the war. Assurances Expected. Thtit tho United states is looking for tho removal uf some of the causes of the present complication in the forthcoming answer from England to the American note concerning the mis-j mis-j use of flags was intimated in some official of-ficial quarters. It was pointed out that if categorical assurances were giv(?n by Groat Britain ami her allies that none of their vessels would bo permitted permit-ted to fly the American or other neutral neu-tral Hags, the safety ol' American rs-sels rs-sels in tho war zones would be guaranteed guaran-teed and German submarines would be obliged, to vinit and search neutral esse? es-se? for contraband before destroying them as pri.cs. Oilier nrulrnl Matey, especially Holland and the Kc.-tndlnavian countries, niso are apprehensive concerning tho situation and have consulted the fniird Smies, It been be-en mo known today. WJiile Ut to 8 no underKfandinsr imi-lyins Joint uetjon If any nential vessels are sunk, ihc Wn.Nh-tnton Wn.Nh-tnton government lia.s made It plain that it Is in crord it li tho M.ops a I ready taken by other neutral puvicrii, uupict ol" their notes and rcprytiMitntlona bavin;; been l'nrnisheij to oilleia hi Jiern. Policy Not Disclosed. Pecrela ry '.y-a n v fused io rcvoa I to-nicht to-nicht wliat st pb the United fcft;rtes would take if America n vchhcIb or IIvtk v, ere Inst, and fit the state, war and navy depart de-part men i k rlfl ii lis of t he pollry l.ein InrniulHled by the American government were not disclosed. The roipKe.stloii in t l;e German nolo that coiu'ojs of Anieriran warships r-li'iuid aceoiniaii- A met lea n merciia id men v;m lookfl upon y (ifTi')j(iH as I in pra rd i;( 1. been line it would impose an olilia t Ion on the 'nited Stales to Kunranle. the chav-Hffer chav-Hffer of cargoes "f oulK'dnK vessels, u it-duiieim-iit not coeied by any donn:dic law. Moreover, if mines wi-i! laid, a i.l'TuiHny anii'Miiices her intention oi do-inir, do-inir, ( nnvovK, in the opinion cf A rn'-ii':- n officials, wonlrl be Mill eraJaniieriMj ,v miin', and public opinion in the Trdiej St.'l t es ni t be 11)1 I'd I more Hefiol is i . ni-ODS'-ij Ijy ih dcsti iiction ;i waiship than of a merchant ma n. In fact, tIm disposition was to repaid th-: sowini: of mines in laige sea areas scs crejttinf; a K' ea t'T !))'. mi , 1 1 .a n mj bmari tie w a r-larc. r-larc. May Demand Pilots. When mines wee laid in the North s"a the Amencij: goV':rnim:nt ('ink t ,-1 j: jiosi-l jiosi-l Ion t.hii I. it could not del ermine whp-h of the belliyereTits was res; .on. I l-u- u-r Mi., action and -Md not pote.-t, - j j-- i ;j 1 -.-since pUoW wyr- fmidshed hv Great f'.rita hi a nd neiit ia 1 e s-ds were er,., I to pro'e(.d with I heir journeys. With lire admhston by ' nniniy fit' her int eij,,i, to lay mm' s, il was Intimated tK1i -j P ri 1 1 e H t. ndi-'n! he foi-l ai .imin rnd"s'-I-j!ois v.erc -iven )o n"utjal vb.s"l," eatiy-lli- 1 e i ' i ii i a I i ,i ' As to ihr HMimiuiii-miiii in the Gcrmar iK le that the rman navy would now (Continued on Pag Two.) GERMANY BACKS UP THE WAR ZONE ORDERf m Answers Protest of United States in Courteous Language, Lan-guage, but Refuses to Abandon Her Purpose. (Continued from Page Ono.) regard all articles as contraband which Great Britain had so proclaimed, the American government ia not e.xpecterl to enter Into any dispute except in connection connec-tion with those articles against which it already lias protested to the allies. The right to intercept contraband cargoes and even destroy them at sea, if contraband constitutes more than half the cargo of a ship, is an admitted ritrht, though proof must later be presented to bear out such action. German View. In German official quarters here the possibility of complications with neutrals over the war zone decree was not regarded re-garded as likelv to occur, because it was pointed out that Germany's campaign was aimed at steamers carrying cargoes ol contraband and not eseis utvuicu tlrelv to passenger traffic. There would be lio object. It was said, in destroying even enemy passenger ships, although they might'be captured and diverted trom their courses. It was said that riot only was It probable prob-able that German submarines would carefully care-fully avoid interference with any American" Ameri-can" ships, but that they would also refrain re-frain from attacking any of the big trans-Atlantic trans-Atlantic liners even If they were undei French or British flags. These great liners carrv no such cargoes and their entire capacity is consumed by passengers passen-gers and the thousands ot tons of coal necessary to make the trans-Atlantic voyage at high speed. Text of Note. The text of the German government's reply to the American note follows: The imperial government has examined ex-amined the communication from the United states government in the same spirit of good will and friendship by which I lie communication appears to have been dictated. The imperial government gov-ernment is in accord with the tinted Slates government itial for botli parties It is in a nigh oegrcc unliable unli-able to avoid misunderstandings which might arise from measures announced an-nounced bv the German admiralty and to provide against the occurrences of incidents which might trouble the friendly relations which so far happily exist between the two government. With regard to the assuring of tlu-se friendly relali"ns the German government govern-ment believes that It may all the more reckon on a full understanding understand-ing with the miter Stales as the procedure announced by the German admiralty, which v. as fully explained in the note of the fourth instant, is In no wav directed agalnfl legitimate legiti-mate commerce and legitimate shipping ship-ping or neutrals, but represents sole-lv sole-lv a measure of s-h'-deielise, imposed on German bv her vital int. -rests, against Knvland's method of warfare, which is contrary to International law and which so far no protei.t by neutrals bus succeeded in hriiicing back to the generally re.-oenUed principles prin-ciples of law as existing beloro the outbreak nf war. In order tu exclude all doubt regarding re-garding these cardinal points. the German po"rnu t on. e more begs leave to slate how things stand. I n-til n-til now Germany has s i upul'-usly observed ob-served valid international rules regarding re-garding naval warfare. At the very beginning of the war. Germany Ini-mediale-v agreed to the proposal ol the American government to ratlf the new declaration of London, and took over its contents unaltered and without formal obllgatl"!! Into her pri7,e law. The German govet runent has obee. these rules, even when thev were dlametrl. allv onnos.d to her military Interests. l-'or Instance. Germany allowed al-lowed the transportation "f ptovl-sir.ris ptovl-sir.ris to Knglaiid from l.'enmark until un-til todav. though she was well able, bv- her sea forces, to prevent It. In contra-dlstlnclion to this attitude. F.ngland has h"t even hesitated at a second Infringement of international law, If bv sm h means she could paralyze par-alyze the peaceful commerce of Germany Ger-many with neutrali-. The German government will be the less ohllg-d to enter Into details as these are put down sufficiently, though not exhaustively. ex-haustively. In the American note to the British government Jat-d l'ecem-ber l'ecem-ber Fit. fl result of five mouths' experience. ex-perience. Case of AVilhelmina. All thepr enrroorhmentp have, hern mart. has bpn HrlmltWl. In "rur to .-ut off nil suppH" from F.ermnny and thprrbv Htnrvo her prnful rlvll populatlon-H procedure, contrary " All humHiiltfuhin prlmlplrw. N-'itnila have heu to prevent Mio In terrupt mn f Hiplr '"rnnirrr'p. wMli Germany, whi-'h 1 military to UU'M-natlmial UU'M-natlmial la wh. , Thf ArnTiffin K"vrnnit nt . an ..pt-manv ..pt-manv rpa'JIlv oPknowlprlRPil. has protested pro-tested ,nalnst the British pro:cdur. In Hplto of thpso protPstH ami protests pro-tests from nthpr neutral kUiIch, i.rp.'t. Britain route! not h hwltU'f-d 'J' part from Uin cour. of a-'tlnn ftho dad rJc.fklocI upon. Thus, fnr tiisitH tu-o. tlm Ampfl'Mii Hhip Wllhc-lmimi recnt-lv recnt-lv was stonpp-i by the. Rrl'hMi, n -t'houKh her I'Bi-o wap (Jf-Htinnl nnlely i f.,r Hip. "irrrnan rlvll population HtiH, I o,.,v,iin.f m the pxnresB doclariitliui of tho ' ;prmau K"vr"nienl . wiih to be. emplove.l only for this purpose,. UeririHTiv Im aa f-oor hh 'uL o('i ironi tier OVeinejlH HUppIV by tllfl Hllenl Ol' protPMlluc loleiailon of neutralH, mt onlv in regard to nuHi KnodH hs h n , nhfolutplv eonlvah;! nd. hut also In re'ji rrl to suli an. o-cord iuK 1 o h'- l;nowledt;ed ,iw b-Toi tin- war, are only i-ondlton;il con I in bn nd or not . roiilrabund ji t nil. Great Britain's Avantyge. (',re;it nrlt;ilu. on the ot her lmii'1,. Is with tho toleration of nnitnil kov- ernn.entH. not. only Htippllfi with mii'li yoorlH ;ih ajp not con I m band or only fondlt In mi I roii! ni Ui nd. but. with Kood whh I, arc remled by th-e;i !. ,-irltnln, If Fnt to (Jcniu uv, a iili-Hnhiio iili-Hnhiio runl nihil nd ; miinely, pro i-rdon, i-rdon, IndiiHlrlHl raw m:it"i hds, rtr.. and oven Willi oodn wnbdi linvo always al-ways liidutdlahly been run.'i riled nn H. b.Tilnli 1'fnitruha.ud. 'I'lie ( ! r-ni 10 II HOVfTllllifllt fee In It -welf nbll'ed In point out with tlm Kie;i I est oinplmslH thnl n tra flic In Firms:, eidlmated nt many huudi'edn of inillinnp. Ih bcinc '-ju ried on bel ween Auierb'jin linns nud 'i'-nininy's fiu-lrien fiu-lrien lir'i'iiiiiiiv fully ron ipre heudft th;. Hie pifirtice uf rlfll'l Hlld I lU' tnlernt Ion of wrnnu on the part I, eitl;ilH 11 ir niMlteiH llb'lollllelv (it t tin dlHi i-ellon of neiitiiilm. ii nd Involve no fornntl vlolntk.ri uT in-u I rn 1 1 1 y . ' 1T-many, 1T-many, therefor'. did not rnmpl;i1n of Hoy fonnul vlolnllnn of u e 1 1 1 1 a 1 1 1 y , but Iho liernian c.overiiuienl , In view i,r ci.niplete evldiuie,. hefi.l.- il. fO II - not !i-d. t'"hiMni; out I h:i I It. tnE.-t h-cr h-cr with the entire public uilliloii f.f ( ifl'lll!! IV. l'"'lH III ell' Ic) be y-VT-' pre iif Iced 1 1 v tho t a I n I lint lie u t in l;i, lu f.TecinirdliiK llxdr rli:hm In hilb mil t e mill meree wll h I b'I'llia n , cordliu,' In Interna Mount hi"', lii- up to lb'' pn-Heni n - lile ed no, or only Inplanificant, rosulls, whlln they aro niak in- nidi mitcd use of their risht by ci'j'iyiiiq- on contraband traffic with Great Britain and our other enemies. Rights of Neutrals. If it Is a formal rfsht of noutruls to take, no stops to protect, their legitimate le-gitimate trnde with derma ny ami evon to allow themselves to be influenced influ-enced in the direction of the conscious find willful rest riot ion of their trade, on the other hand, they have the perfect per-fect right, which they unfortunately do not exercise, to cease contraband trade, especially in arms, with Germany's Ger-many's enemies. Tn view of this situation, Germany, after six months of pa tient wai liner, sees herself obliged to answer Gr--at Britain's murderous method, of naval warfare with sharp counter measures. Tf Great Britain, in her fight apainst Germany, summons hunger as an ally, for the purpose of Imposing upon a civilized people, of seventy millions tho choice between destitution a nd starvation star-vation or submission to Great Britain's commercial will, then Germany Ger-many today is determined to take up the gauntlet and appeal to similar allies. Germany trusts that the neutrals who so far have submitted to the clls-nd clls-nd va n ta eon us consemie.ncey nf Civa t Brit a i n"s hunger war In silence or mostly in registering a protest, will display toward Germany no smaller measure of toleration, even if German measures like those of Great Britain present new terrors of naval warfare. Forcible Suppression. Moreover, the Germa n government is resolved to suppress with all the means at Us disposal the importation of war material to Great Britain and her allies, and she takes It for granted grant-ed that neutral governments, which so far have taken no steps aga Inst the traffic in arms with Germany's j enemies, will not oppose forcible sup-j sup-j pression by Germany of this tra.le. Acting from this point of view, the German admiralty proclaimed a naval war zone whose limits it exactly defined. de-fined. Germany, so far as possible, will seek to close this war zone with mines and also will endeavor to rle- stroy hostile merchant vei-esels In every ev-ery other way. TV bile the German government fn taking action based uponi this overpowering point of view keeps itself far removed from all Intentional In-tentional destruction of neutral lives and property, on the other hand It does not fail to recognize that fivm the action to be taken against Great Britain dangers arise which threaten nil trade within the war zone, without distinction. This is a natural result of mVi warfare which, even under the strictest observance of the limits of international law. endangers everv ship approaching the mine area. The German government considers itself entitled to hope that all neutrals will acquiesce In these measures, as they have done In the case of the grievous griev-ous damages inflicted upon them by British measures, all the more so as G ermany is resolved, for the pro-tcction pro-tcction of neutral shipping even in the na val war zone, to do everything which is at all compatible with the attainment nf this object. in view nf the fact that Germany gave the first proof of her good win In fixing a time limit of not less than fourteen dnvq before 1h execution of sa Id measures, so that neutral shipping might have an opportunit v of making arrangements to avoid threatening dnner, this can most surely be achieved by remaining away from the naval wa r zone. Neut ral vessels which, despl'e this ample notice no-tice which grcnly affects the achievement achieve-ment of our aims In our war a -ia inst Great Britain, enter these rinsed waters wa-ters win themselves bear the re-spon-ihjj r v for any unfortunate accidents ac-cidents that ma y n'-cur. Germany disclaims all responsibility' fur such accidents and their consequences. Will Not Renounce Rights. Germanv has further expressly announced an-nounced th destruction of all enemy merchant, vessels found within tl"1 war zone, but not the destruction of all merchant vessels, as the 1'nitfJ States senilis erroneously to li;iv understood. un-derstood. Tills restriction which Germany Ger-many imposes upon itself is prejudicial preju-dicial to the aim of our warfare, 'specially .fin m the a pplica ti"i of the cnucopti'ui of contraband practiced by (Jrea t Brit a in toward Germa ny which coin ept inn will now No be siin liar 1- interpreted by Get ma m -the presumption w ill be that neutral ships have contraband ah-uml. Germany Ger-many natnialiv is umvlliing tn renounce re-nounce Hh right to ascertain tlm presence of eonirabjind In neutral e;;;ol. H n, jn c(t'!aill HI SOS to lil'ltW conclusions t herefrom. Germane Is ready, finally, to deliberate- with the Tniled Siat.-s concerning con-cerning any , measures which might secnif. the safety nf legitimate shipping ship-ping of neutrals iif the war zone. Germain' cannot, however, forbear to m.itii .-.nt ..li ito r.ffr.vi In thia direction ma be rendered very difficult diffi-cult bv two 'circumstances: tlrst. the misuse of neutral flags by Frit Ish men-haul ves-ds. which Indubitably Indubita-bly known to the t'nltci Stiles: second, sec-ond, the contraba nd t rade already ineni ioned. es e. la 1 1 v in war materials, ma-terials, on neut ra 1 vessels. England's Secret Order. R'k'.inliiii,' the latter point. Germany would fain hope that the I'nited Stales After further onsid era t ion will come to ft conclusion corresponding to fhe spirit of neutrality regarding tho Mrt point. The secret order of tho F-b il :rh admiralty, recommending b'1 British merchant ships the use of neutral Hans, lias been communicated by Germany to the t'nited States anrl conllrmrd bv com munic t ton with the Hiitlsh foreign office, which designates desig-nates this pincerinre as entirely mi-oblpctlonable mi-oblpctlonable und in accordance with BrlMMi hi w. liritlsh merchant shipping ship-ping Immediately followed this advice, ad-vice, as doubtless Is known to the American govern n ien I from the Incidents Inci-dents of tho Busiianfa and r.aertes. Moreover, t lie Hrii ish government, has supplied arms to British merchant ships and Instructed them forcihlv to resist German submarines. In these clfcnmsta ncen. it would be very difficult, diffi-cult, for submarines to recogiiUe pen-' tral merchant ships, for search in most cases can no I be undertaken, seeing t hn t I u I he ruse of a disguised dis-guised British ship from which an attack at-tack may be oNpcrted the searching party and Ihe submarine would be exposed ex-posed to destruction. Necessity roimed uut. Great Britain thru was in a position po-sition to make I he lernia n measures Illusorv If the HritNh mnrcbanl fleet persisted In the misuse of neutral flag- and neiil ml ships could uol otherwise be recognized bevuiul douid. Germany, how ever, . being in a St a I e of noee:.sl1 v, wherein she was placed bv violation of law. must vender ven-der effective her measures in all clr-cumstaiM'cM, clr-cumstaiM'cM, hi order thereby to compel com-pel her adversary to adopt methods of wa rl'a re corresponding with (nt er-imtional er-imtional law and so to restore the freedom of the sea;, of which Germanv a all times Is Ihe defender and for which she today m righting. Gcnimnv therefore rejoices thai the Gnllcd States ban made repn'i-en-lallonH to Great lullaiu concerning the illegal use of Ihelr flag, and e-prertses e-prertses the e peel a I Ion Ihal thin procedure pro-cedure will force Ureal Brilaln In respect re-spect the American flag In the future. fu-ture. In I his c pec I a tlon, com inn nd -era of German sii bn ia rl lies have been In si rue l ed. as h 1 ready men toned In the note of February I, to refrain from violent action n gainst American meridian mer-idian I vesHelM, ;;o la r a a I bean run be recognized. Convoys Advised. In order to pre out u the mit'enl manner Ihe consequencer; of confusion - Ihoiigli, na I nt ally, mil so lar an mines n re concerned Germany rei-nni mends lhat Ihe I'nlled Stales make their fillip-1- which are coin eying peaceful caioes through Ihe HiJilsh war v.-m-rllMceinlble bv means of cnliMHa. Gcr-inanv Gcr-inanv believes II inav net rni I ho sup-pi.Mhlou sup-pi.Mhlou Dial olilv Midi F.hlps would l,e convoyed ny ea I 1'led goods 111 re-garded re-garded an con I i a ba i id, accnnllng In Hi.. Ibltlah inlci tneiu I ion made In ..tt,,vv I bin ui"lhod nf conny .nil be carried out is a question concerning concern-ing which Germany is ready to open negotiations wi t h the United States as soon as possible. Germany would be particularly grateful, however, if the I'nlled States would urgently recommend rec-ommend to Us mere ha nt vessels to avoid ihe British naval war zone, in anv case, until the setllement of the flag question. Germany Is imVinod to the confident hope that the United States will be able to appreciate iu lis entire significance the heavy bat-v bat-v lie which Germany is waging for exist e nee and that, from (he foregoing fore-going explanations and promises, it will acquire full understanding of the motives and the aims of the measures announced by Germany. One Way Out. Germany repeals that it has now resolved upon the projected measures onlv under the strongest necessity of national self-defense, such measures meas-ures having been deferred out of consideration of neutrals.- If the United Slates, in view of the weight which it is justified in throwing throw-ing and able to throw into the scales of the fate of peoples, should succeed at the last moment in removing the grounds which make that procedure an obligatory duty for Germany, and if the American government in- par ticular should find a way to make the declaration of London respected on behalf also of those powers which a re fighting on Germa nys side and t hereby make possible for Germany legitimate importation of I he necessaries neces-saries of life and industrial raw material, ma-terial, then the German government could not too highly appreciate such a service, rendered in the Interests of humane methods of warfare, and would gladly draw conclusions from the new situation. |