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Show GERMANY FIRMLY MAINTAINS RIGHT I TO OEOCKADE OF BRITISH WATERS I Reply to United States Protest, Couched in Friendly Terms, It Transmitted to Washington Note Explains That Pro-posed Pro-posed Action Is Rendered Necessary by Great Brit- ain's Policy of Attempting to Cut Off Food Supply of Civil Population Method f Never Recognized by Inter-national Inter-national Law. FLYING OF NEUTRAL FLAGS FORCES DECREE I Germany Must Compel Hostile Nations to Return to Recog- nized Principles of International Law and Restore Free- ifjS dom of the Seas Recommends That United States f :'rSS Send Convoy of Warships to Guard Merchant 'UtS Vessels Through Danger Zone If Lon- fltS, don Declaration Were Observed Ger- tifS many Would Conform and Act ! in Accordance With New Situation. :'M Berlin, Feb 18. via London, 5.5S p m The reply of Germany to the protest of the United States against a blockade of British waters is couched couch-ed In the most friendly terms but firmly maintains the position of Germany Ger-many as already announced. The answer, which is a lengthy document, was converted into code at the United Uni-ted States embassy under the direction direc-tion of Ambassador Gerard and has been transmitted in full to Washington. Washing-ton. The note explains that Germany's proposed action Is rendered necessary neces-sary by Great Britain's policy of attempting at-tempting to cut off the food supply for the German civil population by a method never recognized In International Inter-national law. England's course in ordering merchantmen to fly neutral flags, equipping them with artillery with orders to destroy submarines, the German reply contends, renders nugatory nu-gatory the right of search, thus giving giv-ing the Germans the right to attack English shipping f.ermany holds that she cannot abandon the right under the stress which England has forced upon her Since Germany must compel the nations na-tions with which she is at war to return to the recognized principles of international law and restore the freedom of the seas, she argues that the stand she has taken Is necessary The note recommends that the United Uni-ted States government send warships to England to convoy merchant vessels ves-sels through the danger zone as se-curitv se-curitv against attack with the understanding under-standing that vessels thus guarded shall carry no war supplies. Hope is expressed that the American government gov-ernment will understand the position in which Germany has been placed and appreciate the reasons for its course. The reply closes with an expression of the hope that toe unuea duhbb may prevail upon Great Britain "to return re-turn to the principles of international law recognized prior tc the outbreak of the war." and in particular obtain the observance of the London declaration dec-laration by belligerents opposed to Germany. If this were done, the note explains. Germany would be enabled to import food supplies and raw materials. ma-terials. Germany would recognize In this, says the reply, an Invaluable service toward the more humane conduct con-duct of the war and would act in accordance ac-cordance with the new situation thus created Reply Not Received. Washington, Feb 18 Germany's reply to the American note on the uaval war zone around the British Isles had not been received today at the state department. Dispatches on other matters from Ambassador Gerard, filed In Berlin yesterday, said he had delivered the American not, but that the German reply had not yet been delivered to him. The out-iine out-iine of the German reply contained in news dispatches, however, commanded command-ed close attention in official and diplomatic diplo-matic quarters, but comments were beinc reserved until after the note has been received Awaiting Next Move of U S. Amsterdam. Feb. IS. via London. 5-36 p. m. "If (.ermany had only to do with the United States ." says the Amsterdam Telegraaf, "this answer an-swer perhaps would hae been drawn up in somewhat kindlier terms. It is however, a question of intimidation at the same time of a number or small neighboring counlries, where every concession is regarded as a sign of w eakness. "As usual, the German diplomat is hiding behind the rattling sword of the militarist. The eyes or all neutral neu-tral states In western Europe are now-fixed now-fixed on Washington and their own ers are awaiting the next move of President Wilson." Danish Parliament In Secret Session Copenhagen, via London. Feb. 18. Germany's reply to the joint note ol the Scandinavian powers on tlv blockade question has been received but no announcement has been mada yet regarding its conclusion. The Danish commercial and political politi-cal situation w-as discussed yesterday at a secret session or parliament. |