[Illustration:  MAXIMILIAN HARDEN

Editor of Die Zukunft, Germany’s Most Brilliant Journalist, Who Has
Been Severe in His Strictures Upon the United States

(Photo from Brown Bros.)]

“4.  His Majesty’s Government has felt most reluctant, at the moment of initiating a policy of blockade, to exact from neutral ships all the penalties attaching to a breach of blockade.  In their desire to alleviate the burden which the existence of a state of war at sea must inevitably impose on neutral sea-borne commerce, they declare their intention to refrain altogether from the exercise of the right to confiscate ships or cargoes which belligerents have always claimed in respect of breaches of blockade.  They restrict their claim to the stopping of cargoes destined for or coming from the enemy’s territory.

“5.  As regards cotton, full particulars of the arrangements contemplated have already been explained.  It will be admitted that every possible regard has been had to the legitimate interests of the American cotton trade.

“6.  Finally, in reply to the penultimate paragraph of your Excellency’s note, I have the honor to state that it is not intended to interfere with neutral vessels carrying enemy cargo of non-contraband nature outside European waters, including the Mediterranean.”

(Here follows the text of the Order in Council, which already has been printed.)

American Ambassador, London.

VI.

FRENCH GOVERNMENT’S ANSWER.

The French Government transmitted the following message:

PARIS, March 14, 1915.

French Government replies as follows: 

“In a letter dated March 7 your Excellency was good enough to draw my attention to the views of the Government of the United States regarding the recent communications from the French and British Governments concerning a restriction to be laid upon commerce with Germany.  According to your Excellency’s letter, the declaration made by the allied Governments presents some uncertainty as regards its application, concerning which the Government of the United States desires to be enlightened in order to determine what attitude it should take.

“At the same time your Excellency notified me that, while granting the possibility of using new methods of retaliation against the new use to which submarines have been put, the Government of the United States was somewhat apprehensive that the allied belligerents might (if their action is to be construed as constituting a blockade) capture in waters near America any ships which might have escaped the cruisers patrolling European waters.  In acknowledging receipt of your Excellency’s communication I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the republic has not failed to consider this point as presented by the Government of the United States, and I beg to specify clearly the conditions