Arizona republican., 1914-08-06
Strict Observance of Neu- trality Provided for from
 Portland, Me-, to Nome U. $. May Engage in
 Foodstuff Trade, However
THE PRESIDENT
 TENDERS SERVICES
American Tacticians Believe Decisive Battle May Be Fought Near Waterloo Gallantry of the Belglans No Surprise
ASSOCIATED PRESS pIsPATCHl


 WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-The mag nitude of the problem of American neutrality in the international Euro pean war, what t may mean in the future in the international relations ot the United States and how great it's importance may prove to the Amerl- cans at present, came sharply to the attention of the administration today Steps were taken to see that neutrality is observed to the letter. Instructions were telegraphed to every collector ot customs throughout the country to see that vessels clearing from ports make out the necessary papers.
 To supplement this, orders were sent to the commander of every revenue cutter from Passport, Maine to Seattle, Wash. and Nome. Alaska. to give ev- ery possible assistance to customs of ficers to avoid violations of the neu- trality proclamation.
 During the administration conference it became apparent that the problem ot neutrality is one of the most veXing facing the United States.
 Within few weeks the wheat crops, which go formally to Europe will be at the seaports cIamoring for ships and passage American owners will be anxious to sell and no one doubts that some of the belligerents may wish to buy.
 Whether the wheat will be a contra band of war and whether the United States. as a neutral, will permit it to be loaded for shipment to a nation at war is a question Wheat is only one of the many things that Europe gets from us which may be regarded as con- traband. None of the fighting nations has yet defined what is cOntraband of war and international law is not clear on that point
 Under the Hague convention to which all European nations, except Servia, are signatories a neutral nation is per l mitted and even specifically urged, In time of international conflict to ten i der it's good offices to the contendlng powers. Acting under the terms of l the Hague convention, the president 1 cabled Emperor Francis Joseph of | Austria, Emperor William of Germany, 1 Emperor Nicholas of Russia, King ! George of Great Britain and Presi- 1 dent Poincare of France, a formal offer 1 of the United States good offices. Dl- plomats expressed no opinion to the state department but some of them told newspaper men they believed that the l situation had gone too far to be halted
 by mediation. The Austrian ambassa- 1 dor thought that even if the offer was not accepted, a sudden turn in the mili-
 tarv or naval aspect of the war might influence acceptance,
 Negotiations have begun to charter several big Italian steamships, which together with go American vessels would provide facilities for many thou sands to come home. Representations were made to the German government
 for the release of Americans detained in Germany. Assurance was given that
 the mobilization would be over in two
 days and Americans could leave then | Ambassador Herrick cabled that the
 French government of their own Voll- ton, agreed to deposit several millions
 in gold with Morgan, Harjes and com
 pany for cashing letters of credit and
 travellers checks. The state depart
 ment cabled to Ambassador Page at
 London $300,0 The sub treasuries
 received deposits here for Americans
 abroad Government officials are
 working on a plan of concentration oi
 American refugees at London and are
 negotiating for a big steamer to ply
 the English Channel under the Ameri-
 can flag and carry Americans to ant ] frox, tb, continent