TEXT OF THE GERMAN NOTE TO THE UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 9

TEXT OF THE GERMAN NOTE TO THE UNITED STATES

RUTHLESS SEA WARFARE AMERICAN SHIPPING ORDERED TO KEEP OUT OF \, ! BARRED ZONE '■.'" '~.'• : "•. "By telegraph— Press'Assn.—Copyright. • ;\ '■._.' ''., - .'.'■'" - New York, February 1. •■■_ The text of the' German. Note /to the United States says, inter alia: The '.Imperial Government gives.its earnest attention to President Wilson's; speech, .. ™ e ,??P eral -'Huesof which"■agree in the,.widest sense -with the principles and ". y ,';'" o^??«s ;'°f ,^rmany; ( and'he> Allies.rAVe'approve..of President Wilson's advo-. ; '}'■[ Y^.?^ ? ?^ r^?' JJlK? -self%6yerriment,',ahd'equal right's to all nations! ' -Recogr • pifmoiple, Germany; would sincerely welcome its application.;to Ire- : '" J ->? i whq'_'ap7riot. .enjoy the blessings of independence. Alliances' ' which jdnvenation's.into competition- and lead to selfish intrigues are likewise "to Germany. The freedom, of the seas and an ooen door to trade were always the guiding principles of German policy. Germany and her Allies were:ready to enter into peace negotiations,, and had '. guarantees of existence, honour,-and liberty as the basis .of peace. Their : plans'as_ was 1 stated;on'December 12; did. not aim at the destruction and \: annihilation of.an adversary and were compatible, with the rights of other ■'-; nations'. The annexation ef Belgium haft never been Germany's intention. Germany merely wanted •to take precautionary, measures in order that Belgium should not be exploited by her adversaries for the promotion of hostile attempts. Such precaution was urgently needed, as the enemy, especially at the Paris Conference,, declared its unveiled intention, even after restoring peace, to continue a systematic trade fight. .The attempt of the Central Powers towards peace had failed because thciradvcrsaries' lust for conquest and their war aims were designed to dishonour Germany, Austria/Turkey, and Bulgaria. Our adversaries wanted to fight, to .the last, and have thus created a new situation which forces Germany to anew decision;' For two years and a half England had misused politics; then her Navy attempted to'force the Central' Powers into subjection. ■ England had prohibited our legitimate trade and even the fortunes of neutral .States. 'America knows what means were taken in order to induce England to observe the.laws of nations and respect the freedom of the ocean, but the English Government persists in am of starvation, which does not touch /.' our "ilHary strength, but forces women and children and the dick and aged to suffer painful privations, which are endangering the national vitality. 'The' Note then intimates the abandonment of the restriction on,sea war- . fare:; ./.'•'. •■■ A memorandum!accompanying the Note'./states: 'All sea traffic will bo '.. oprmsed'within barred zones around-Britain. France,-Italy, and the Eastern -- Mediterranean.' Precautions will be taken that' neutral vessels en route to ports:onFebruary-l'.willbe:spared, yet they' are urgently advised to be warned-'and directed to other roads- by aljmeans at their disposal. Neutrals 'now'in port'in the barred zones can with safety, abandon the "ones if thev " sail' before February 5. taking the- shortest route to the open districts. The traftV i of'"regulaf' ; American passenger;ships. can continue unmolested •if Fal- - ...mouth is. the .port, of designation,- and- they keep to the reserved snfety lanes ,' and -carry prominent'distinctive marks and flags, which must be illuminated at night;.also if one steamer each week runs in each, direction, arriving .at Falmouth on Sundays and leaving on: Wednesdays, and jf guarantees are given •■■ ■ by.the-American Government that these steamers do not carrv contraband . ... .according-'to .Germany's list of contraband:—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '■;.■ SIT.UATIQN REPORTED TO BE MOST CRITICAL '',""' ' ".■ v ■' ■•■■'" "'■''"•-. -x ",• . ,'.„ ' ... , -' Washington,' February 1. The situation is still most critical. President Tftlson.ancl Mr.. Lansing (Secretary of State) conferred for an nour. but Mr. Lansing' declined a statement. Sir Cecil Spring-Rice called on the State Parliament.—Router. GERMANY'S UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINING MUST NOT, GO INTO EFFECT •• .. (Rec. February 2, 5.5 p.m.) '•-,..-■- ~-■ ' New York, February 1. .._-. T rom the mass of reports and rumours emerges the fact that President • .Wilson-had repeated conferences with Mr. Lansing. Both declined to make . ..' abatement, .hut it is believed that a course'of action was decided upon . which-may possibly take the. form of a Note which'would be tantamount to an ultimatum .to Germany... . Ttie_ "Evening Post's" Washington correspondent says President Wilson !nas- decided that Germany's unrestricted submarining must not j<o into effect '■ ' if. the moral, and possibly'physical, power of the United States can prevent it, but the. President .is striving hard to prevent participation in the war. ...-■ —Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.. ' ' ... COUNT. BERNSTORFF IS GIVEN HIS PASSPORTS ;.. ■ A Ottawa, February 1. _ It is learned from an excellent official source that President Wilson has delivered passports to Count Bemstorff; the German Ambassador.—Press Assn. Extraordinary. :.--•''■ THE AREA OF THE BARRED ZONE. " , '■ ■ , Now York, February'l. Thi. area of the barred zone outlined in. the German Note includes a portion of the .Atlantic to a point -10(1 miles west of Ireland, and extending from a point 300 miles west of Cape Finislerre to 200 miles west of the Faroe Islands, all .the .western portion of the North Sea. and all the Medi- . fffranean. There.are harrow, eafet-v zones across the Atlantic and through the Mediterranean.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ■ . /" ■;,,.■ DEFIANT, ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES PRESS. . -.--. -. -.'■" ■ ■■'■ ; (Pec- February 2, 5.5 p.m.) New York, Februarv 1. The newspapers m the Middle West, South, and in Now England sup- ■ ■ " port the defiant attitude of the New.' York Press as never before since the 9n7. : Some"demand that passports be given. Count Bernstorff; others sav that a breach is inevitable unless- Germany backs down—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.