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Show WRITER CRITICISES BOTH THE NOTE AND THE REPLY ; BEJtLJN. March S, via London, 11:45 a. rn. Count von Reventlow, a writer on naval subjects, has an article in today's to-day's Tages Zeitung in which he ex- presses his thorough displeasure both with the American note to Germany concerning con-cerning the naval var zone and the submarine sub-marine blockade of the British Isles and the German answer to this communication. communica-tion. ' In this Germanv substantially agrees to accept manv of the informal suggestions sugges-tions of the United States made to better bet-ter the situation for carrying out. Germany's Ger-many's blockade and the British retaliatory retalia-tory measures, providing Great Britain yields on her siae in certain directions, particularly in the matter of shutting out all food shipments to Germany. In his attitude of opposition, this writer is almost alone among German commentators. Die Post being the only other paper disposed to express dissatisfaction dissatis-faction with the German answer. Discusses Effect. Count von Reventlow says the American Ameri-can proposals would have the effect of making Germany's submarine war impossible, im-possible, and Germany's answer gives heed to this demand. Concerning Germany's Ger-many's willingness to proceed according to the general international rules against hostile and neutral merchantmen, provided pro-vided the abuse of the flag is abandoned, Count von Reventlow says: According to this, a German submarine sub-marine would let a merchantman under un-der the English flag pass by with courteous bows, perhapB with a salute sa-lute of the flag. To proceed according ac-cording to International rules would mean putting an end to searching and the possible- capture of neutraU and the capture under all circumstances of hostiles. Such a course for German Ger-man submarines is out of the question. ques-tion. Moreover, even jf Great Britain Brit-ain promised to stop the use of false flags, there could be no certainty she would keep her promise: Germany would bo the loser in any event. Die Post Suspicious. Die Post declares the fact that the United States alleged that its proposals were teased upon upright friendships and the Interests of humanity was enough to make "one suspicious at the start." The American proposals have been dictated dic-tated solely by American business interests, inter-ests, this paper says. If Germany agreed to these proposals she would keep faith, while England would not. and the result re-sult would hamper Germany's wa rfare. Hence, the German answer was not satisfactory. Captain Persius. another writer on naval matters and a war correspondent in the service of the Benin Tageblatt, says he hopes Great Britain will con-pent con-pent to abandon the misuse of fiats end the arming of merchantmen. Then neutral neu-tral powers need have no further concern regarding their ships a nd their rii izens. German submarine commanders also would be freed of a heavy load. If any a greement to this effect waa reached, the German government eouM boast of a decided success, which, it is freely acknowledged, ac-knowledged, could only have ben achieved through the support of the United Ftates. The Morgenpost says the American note is couched In gra tjfyirg form and shows more respect for existing conditions condi-tions than did the flrt communication from "Washington. Taken h s a v.hoie. the America n propoa Is thronhnit a re worthy of consideration, this paper ?avs. |