New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915 | Page 6

this direction may be rendered very
difficult by two circumstances: First, the misuse of neutral flags by
British merchant vessels, which is indubitably known to the United
States; second, the contraband trade already mentioned, especially in
war materials, on neutral vessels.
Regarding the latter point, Germany would fain hope that the United
States, after further consideration, will come to a conclusion
corresponding to the spirit of real neutrality. Regarding the first point,
the secret order of the British Admiralty, recommending to British
merchant ships the use of neutral flags, has been communicated by
Germany to the United States and confirmed by communication with
the British Foreign Office, which designates this procedure as entirely
unobjectionable and in accordance with British law. British merchant
shipping immediately followed this advice, as doubtless is known to
the American Government from the incidents of the Lusitania and the
Laertes.
Moreover, the British Government has supplied arms to British
merchant ships and instructed them forcibly to resist German
submarines. In these circumstances, it would be very difficult for
submarines to recognize neutral merchant ships, for search in most
cases cannot be undertaken, seeing that in the case of a disguised
British ship from which an attack may be expected the searching party
and the submarine would be exposed to destruction.

Great Britain, then, was in a position to make the German measures
illusory if the British merchant fleet persisted in the misuse of neutral
flags and neutral ships could not otherwise be recognized beyond doubt.
Germany, however, being in a state of necessity, wherein she was
placed by violation of law, must render effective her measures in all
circumstances, in order thereby to compel her adversary to adopt
methods of warfare corresponding with international law, and so to
restore the freedom of the seas, of which Germany at all times is the
defender and for which she today is fighting.
Germany therefore rejoices that the United States has made
representations to Great Britain concerning the illegal use of their flag,
and expresses the expectation that this procedure will force Great
Britain to respect the American flag in the future. In this expectation,
commanders of German submarines have been instructed, as already
mentioned in the note of Feb. 4, to refrain from violent action against
American merchant vessels, so far as these can be recognized.
In order to prevent in the surest manner the consequences of
confusion--though naturally not so far as mines are
concerned--Germany recommends that the United States make its ships
which are conveying peaceful cargoes through the British war zone
discernible by means of convoys.
Germany believes it may act on the supposition that only such ships
would be convoyed as carried goods not regarded as contraband
according to the British interpretation made in the case of Germany.
How this method of convoy can be carried out is a question concerning
which Germany is ready to open negotiations with the United States as
soon as possible. Germany would be particularly grateful, however, if
the United States would urgently recommend to its merchant vessels to
avoid the British naval war zone, in any case until the settlement of the
flag question. Germany is inclined to the confident hope that the United
States will be able to appreciate in its entire significance the heavy
battle which Germany is waging for existence, and that from the
foregoing explanations and promises it will acquire full understanding
of the motives and the aims of the measures announced by Germany.

Germany repeats that it has now resolved upon the projected measures
only under the strongest necessity of national self-defense, such
measures having been deferred out of consideration for neutrals.
If the United States, in view of the weight which it is justified in
throwing 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 particular, should find a way to make the Declaration
of London respected--on behalf, also, of those powers which are
fighting on Germany's side--and there by make possible for Germany
legitimate importation of the necessaries of life and industrial raw
material, 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.
BRITAIN'S ANSWER.
LONDON, Feb. 19.--The full text of Great Britain's note regarding the
flag, as handed to the American Ambassador, follows:
The memorandum communicated on the 11th of February calls
attention in courteous and friendly terms to the action of the Captain of
the British steamer Lusitania in raising the flag of the United States of
America when approaching British waters, and says that the
Government of the United States feels