The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
Believed Basis for Solution of Maritime Situation Might Yet Be Reached Through Negotiations
WILSON CONSIDERS ALLIES RETALIATORY
 PLAN DURING DAY
Will Ask the Allies How They Intend to Enforce. Sweeping Commercial Blockade

Washington, March 2.-WhIie Presi- dent Wilson indicated today that the United States would inquire of Great Britain and France as to how they pro- pose to carry out their announced de- termination to prohibit commercial in- tercourse by sea with Germany, such ac- tion. it was stated later. probably would be deferred until replies were received from Great Britain and Germany to the American proposals looking to n cessa- tiOn of submarine warfare on merch ant ships and unrestricted passage of food stuns to civilian populations.
 Germany's reply, as described in press dispatches. created favorable impress sion here. but until the text is received no official comment will be made. The attitude of Germany gave rise to the be- lief in some quarters that a basis for solution of the maritime situation might yet be reached.
 What Great Britain's reply will be de- bends to some extent on the attitude of her allies. There have been official in tlmations, however, that England would f1atly reject the proposal for the ship naent of foodstuffs and conditional con- traband to Germany
 Discuss Allies Note
 The Anglo French note outlining the intention of the allies to stop all com merce between Germany and neutral countries occupied the attention of of- heial Washington today. President Will son told induirers just before the cab jnet met that he could not define the attitude of the American government be- cause he had not thoroughly digested the contents of the communication. He point ed ohe that the notes merely had defined In general terms policy to be pursued by the allies without stating the means of enforcing that policy. To make this clear for the United States the Presi- dent added, might necessitate further cor respondence with Great Britain and France.
 Whatever might be the violations of the customs of war as between belIixerents. this could not affect the status of inter- national law as between the United States and countries with which she is at peace.
 Some high officials thought that if Eng land proclaimed blockade and made 1t effective there could be no legal obiec- ton from the United States. Inasmuch as the present steps fall short of such move in th9t all commerce is to be interrupted without specifying the zone of operations or radius of action. the gen. eral belief of officials was that the Uni ted States would enter vigorous protest
 Study Declaration
 State department officials are studying the Anglo-French declaration with a view to advising the President of the rights of neutrals which it seems to transgress
 The possibility that the allies reply to the informal proposals of the United States may introduce a basis for further negotiations along lines that would make unnecessary the embargo the allies have declared on neutral commerce is recop- nlzed by officials generally as an import ant factor in the future course of the American government. If the reply from England is to be long delayed, however. there is belief in many quarters that acting on informal intimations of Great Britain's dfsapproval of the plans suggest ell for sending foodstuffs to Germany. the United States might send its protest fo Great Britain in few days
 Difficulties of the present situation suggest similar conditions of century aog Under what was known as the "conti- mental system" Napoleon's plan for shut ting England off from the continent. a series of retaliatory measures were prac- ticed. which subsequently, involved in the war. countries previously neutral Napoleon first issued his famous Berlin decree. declaring the British islands in a state of blockade. Britain was not long in making reprisals. prohibiting neutral vessels from entering ports controlled bv France or her allies. New French meas
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