Mines are considered as a recognised weapon for the definite protection of the home coast and ports, also as a means of blockading an enemy port.  But the use made of them as an aggressive factor in this war is quite a new feature, for vast areas of open sea on the route of the world’s traffic were converted into minefields impassable for the neutrals except at the greatest danger of their lives.

There is no question but that that is a far greater check to the freedom of movement and a greater obstacle to neutral interests than establishing the unrestricted U-boat warfare within a limited and clearly marked-out zone, leaving open channels for neutral shipping, and by other measures giving due consideration to the interests of the neutrals.

Just at the moment when the President’s appeal to the entire belligerent world coincided with the spontaneous statement of our group, in which we gave a solemn proof of our willingness to conclude a just peace and one acceptable by our enemies, a fresh and larger minefield was laid down in the North Sea on the route of the world’s traffic, and, casting ridicule on the noble initiative of the United States, a war of destruction against our groups of Powers was announced by the Entente.

We urge the great aims that inspired the action of the American Government:  the quickest possible cessation of the fearful slaughter of men and the founding of an honourable, lasting and blessed peace by combating with the greatest energy our enemies’ furious war for conquest.  The course we pursue leads to the common aims of ourselves and the American Government, and we cannot give up the hope of finding understanding in the people and the Government of the United States.

  TISZA.

I answered as follows: 

  March 5.

DEAR FRIEND,—­I cannot agree with you.  After the first Ancona Note you veered round and declared in a second Note that “we agreed with the German standpoint in the main”—­that was an obvious yielding and contained a hidden promise.

  I do not think that any legal wiles will dupe the Americans, and
  if we were to deny the promise it would not advance us any
  further.

But, secondly and principally, it is altogether impossible with words to make the Americans desist from war if they wish it; either they will make straight for war and then no Notes will avail, or they will seek a pretext to escape the war danger and will find it in our Note.

  So much for the merits of the matter.