I now come to the Note to Germany of the 12th of February, delivered in consequence of the notification of her under-sea policy, and for which ‘Warning’ is the only appropriate term. The statement of the principles set at defiance is introduced by the satirical formula ‘It is unnecessary to remind,’ the whole object of the Note being to remind the German Government that the interference with the freedom of the sea is limited to search and blockade, and that in the absence of effective blockade the belligerent nationality or contraband character of the cargo must be determined before a vessel may be destroyed. To this Note came the German reply which set forth England’s iniquities and violations of international law, which were in startling contrast to the scrupulous observance of ‘valid international rules regarding naval warfare’ by Germany. There is a complacent reference to the American Note to Great Britain of the 28th of December, which sets out the details of our iniquities ‘sufficiently, though not exhaustively’; but the main interest of the document is its method of dealing with the duties of neutral States towards Germany. Neutrals have been unable to prevent the interruption of their commerce with Germany, which is contrary to international laws. Germany is as good as cut off from her overseas supply by the silent or protesting toleration of neutrals not only in regard to such goods as are absolute contraband, but also in regard to such as, according to the acknowledged law before the war, are only conditional contraband or not contraband at all. Great Britain, on the other hand, is, with the toleration of neutral Governments, not only supplied with such goods as are not contraband or only conditional contraband, but with goods which are regarded by Great Britain, if sent to Germany, as absolute contraband--namely, provisions, industrial raw material, etc.--and even with goods which have always indubitably been regarded as absolute contraband. There follows a reference ‘with greatest emphasis’ to the enormous traffic in arms which is being ‘carried on between American firms and Germany’s enemies’; after which come two sentences most typical of German occultness: Germany fully comprehends that the practice of right and toleration of wrong on the part of neutrals are matters absolutely at the discretion of neutrals and involve no formal violation of neutrality.... If it is the formal right of neutrals to take no steps to protect their legitimate trade with Germany, and even to allow themselves to be influenced in the direction of conscious wilful restriction of their trade, on the other hand, they have a perfect right, which they unfortunately do not exercise, to cease contraband trade, especially in arms, with Germany’s enemies.