Evening star., 1915-02-25
Officials Here Encouraged by
london's Manner in Re-
ceiving Proposal.
TO STOP FOOD EMBARGO
AND UNDERSEA BLOCKADE
Note Referred by England to Its
Allies-Germany Said
to Be Willing.

| Increasing interest is being mani
tested in official and diplomatic quar-
ters here in the outcome of negotia-
tons on the part of the Wash. .ngtou
government with the British and Ger
man governments with "A view to end
ing danger to American shipping in
the retaliatory measures of the Euro
pean belligerents toward each other
The United States. through its lates'
| proposals. seeks TO secure the elimina-
| ton by Germany of its naval war zou.
| and the adoption by the beligererts
OF definite policy regarding FOOD
| shipments to civilian populations
OfficialS here are said to be some Vha.
| encouraged over the manner in whicl.
| the proposals have been received by the
| British government, which has sub
mltted them to her allies. France aul
| Russia.
| Unofficial advices reported Germany
as inclined to accept the proposals al
| though it was said that German officials
| did not believe Great Britain would
make concession.
German Lanes Furnished.
A more detailed description OF the
lanes neutral ships may follow safe
ly along the German coast was given
by the German embassy today to Sena-
tor Hoke Smith. who has held several
conferences with Ambassador Bern
storm over means to prevent further
ioss OF American cotton steamers in
lGerman waters.
senator Smith telegraphed the infor-
tnation to the Savannah owners of the
Garlb, recently sunk off Rorkum
Island, with the expectation thar theN
would forward it by wireless to anoth-
on its way to Europe
me opinion was expressed at the
embassy that the Carib had wandered
from the path mapped out for neu-
trail vessels.
substance of American Proposals.
| Briefly. the American proposals
which have been submitted to both
England and Germany and through the
former to France and Russia, seek the
elimination by Germany of the recently
prescribed war zone around Great
Britain and Ireland, with its dangers
10 neutral shipping through mines and
submarines torpedoes and the adon
tion by all the beIligerents of def
mite policy with regard to the ship
ments of foodstuffs destined for the
civilian population of their enemies.
II is not expected that a reply to the
informal communication from the
american government will be received
mere Tor at least two days From
such preliminary observations as
American diplomatic officers abroad AL
READY nave made there is said to be-
some encouragement in the manner or
the reception of the proposals at Lon
don. Germany Is inclined toward an
acceptance of the suggestions. IL ia
understood. but upon the attitude of
treat Britain depends the next move
in the situation.
The strong opposition which the
scandinavian countries. Italy. Holland
and other neutrals have assumed
toward the retaliatory measures adopt
ea by the oelligerents is playing a con-
siderable part in the situation. AL
though the American proposals have
not been communicated to other neu-
trails, 1t may be stated that practically
all the neutral governments of Europe
are In accord with the Washington
government.
Gravity Made Clear.
Officials. while reticent about what
has been said to Germany and Great
Britain In the latest communications
do not deny that the gravity of the
whole situation has been made unmis-
takably clear. In some quarters the
suggestion was made, but without con-
nrmation from sources usually well in
formed. that an embargo on EXPORTS
of foodstuffs from the United States to
both the allies and Germany was being
considered as the next step I'm the
levent OF an absolute rejection of the
American plan for ameliorating the
| situation.
| 1t became known that the latest com
lmunication. described as confidential
memorandum. was sent to Ambasea-
dors Page and Gerard, at London and
Berlin. respectively, Sunday, after con-
ferences between President Wilson
Secretary Bryan and Counselor Rob
ert Lansing. 1t was deemed necessary
to guard the contents of the proposals
with great secrecy. so that public ref
erences to them might not embarrass
the belligerents in their discussion of
the suggestions. The American gov
. ernment. m moreover; asked that the
as strictly confidential.
As Few officials and practically none
OF the diplomatic corps are aware OF
| the terms OF the arrangement suggest
ed oy the United States. official Wash
| lngton awaited with much anxiety th.
| result or the present parleys High
ofhcials are giving practically all OF
their attention to the subject, to tho
exclusion of such questions as th..
Japanese-Chinese negotiations and
| Mexican problems.
Effect Of Submarine Warfare.
| While complaints have been few.
some officials think the most serious
| effect of the submarine warfare on
merchant ships and the restrictions i'm
| posed on the shipment of foodstuffs
| and conditional contraband has vet to
| develop. They believe that If the pres
ent situation continues, American eN-
ports will drop to a considers bic ex-
| tent.
There is no concealment either of the
| feeling in high official quarters that ir
| the present tension over the attitude
| of the belligerents continues, and any
| American lives are proved to have
! been lost as the result of their .ctivi-
| ties. the Washington government may
be called upon to abandon its present
attitude of friendliness toward all the
| warning powers.
Thus far there have been no replies
| to the notes from Great Britain and
| Germany concerning the misuse OF
| flags and the possible attacks by sub
| marines on neutral vessels. While
these subjects are discussed in the
latest confidential memorandum, tho
formal replies. if any should be made.
will await the outcome of the present
informal negotiations.