Sir Edward Grey's reply to the American requests for in-
formation about the seizure of the ' Wilhelmina.' and the use of the American flag by the Lusitania' wan published in the papers of last Saturday. He refers to the German Government's announcement that they would in future control all supplies of grain and floor, and points out that the statement that imports would be excepted was not made till after the British Government had seized the Wilhelmina.' But in any case the German Government had made no distinction between combatants and civilians in their conduct of the war, and for various reasons under this head the submission of the Wil- helmina's ' cargo to a Prize Court was justified. The British Government might be obliged before long to declare foodstuffs absolute contraband. As for the use of neutral flags, Sir Edward Grey remarks that there would be no danger whatever to neutral fillips if Germany observed the laws of war. The United States could not fairly ask men in the British merchant marine to forgo a practice which might save their lives from murderous attacks. At the same time, the British Govern- ment bad no intention of advising merchantmen to fly neutral flags as a rule. We are glad to know that. The right plan is to leave our splendidly resourceful merchant captains free to do what they think beat.
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