Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-03
Germany'S Reply Is Regarded
as FavOring Adjustment of
Difficulties Imposed by Sub
marine Blockade,
ANGL0-FRENCH STAND
CALLS FOR PROTEST
Conditions of War May Change
but President Does Not Be-
IieVe They Change Rules of
War Automatically,
toy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL tt.sso was

laf MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL trAsCp wtRUl
Washington, March while Presi-
dent Wilson indicated today that The
United states would send note Of
inquiry to Great Britain and France
to learn how they proposed To carry
out In practice their announced de-
termination to prohibit commercial
Intercourse by sea with Germany, such
action il was said. probably would
be deferred until replies are received
from Great Britain and Germany to
the American proposals looking to
an abandonment of submarine war
fare on merchant ships and unre-
stricted passage of foodstuffs to
civilian population of belligerents.
German Reply Favorable.
Germany's reply, as described in
press dispatches, created favorable
impression among officials but until
the text is officially received no COM
ment will be made. The attitude of
Germany gave rise to the belief in
some official quarters that basis for
solution of the maritime situation
might yet be reached through the new
note.
What Great Brltain's reply will hc
is dependent to some extent on the
attitude of her allies, whom she is
consulting. There have been official
limitations. however. that England
would flatly reject the proposal for
the shipment of foodstuffs and con-
ditional contrahand to Germany.
AnglO-Frcnch Notes.
The Anglo-French notes, outlining
the intention of the allies to stop all
commerce between Germany and neu-
trail countries, occupied the attention
Of official Washington today. Presi-
dent Wilson told inquirers Just be-
fore the cabinet meeting that he could
not define the attitude of the Ameri-
can government because he had not
thoroughly digested the contents Of
the communications though appar-
entity they seemed to establish a block
AIDE. lie pointed out that the notes
had merely defined in general terms
a policy to be pursued by the allies
without stating The means of en-
forcing that policy. TO make this
clear for the United states. the presi-
dent added, might necessitate further
correspondence with Great Britain
and France.
Disputes Allies Contention.
The president made clear his belief
that while the conditions of war might
have changed, no nation had right
to change the rules of war. From this
It was generally inferred that the
American government would insist on
a position frequently expressed by its
officials that whatever might be the
violations of the customs of war as
between belligerents, this could not
affect the status of international law
as between the United States and
countries with which she was AT
peace.
Some officials thought that if Eng
land proclaimed a blockade ana
would make II effective, there could
be no legal objection from the United
States no matter how much its com
meree suffered. lnasmuch as the
present step falls short of such Il
move, in that all commerce is to DC
interrupted without specifying the
zone Of operations or radius of acton,
the general belief was that the United
States would be obliged to enter Wig
orOus protest.
Study the Declarations.
Officials at the state department
are studying the Anglo-French decln-
ration with a view to advising the
president Of the rights of neutrals
which it seems to transgress.
The possibility that the reply OF
the allies to the informal proposals
Of the United States may introduce
"A basis for further negotiation along
lines that would make unnecessary
the embargo on neutral commerce
proclaimed by England and France, is
recognized by officials generally as an
important factor in the future course
Of the American government. If the
reply from England is to be only d"-
layed to consultations with the allies
however, there is a belief in many
quarters that acting on informal m
tmatons of Great Britain's disap-
proval OF the plans suggested ior
sending foodstuffs to Germany, the
United States might send it's protest
to Great Britain in few days
Like a Century Ago.
The difficulties of the present STU
alton suggest to officials similar con-
ditions which existed a century ago
Under what was known rs the con
tnental system" Napoleon's plan Tor
shutting England out from all con-
necton with the continent of Europe,
series Of retaliatory measures were
practced which subsequently involved
IN the war countries previously neu-
tral. First, Napoleon issued his IA