The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-25
PROPOSAL IS THAT BELLlGER. , ENT POWERS AGREE ON FOOD
 STUFFS FOR CIVILIANS.
MAY PUT EMBARGO ON FOOD
This Plan May Be Adopted in Event
 the Warning Nations Refuse to , Come to Agreement That Win pro . tect Shipments in Neutral Vessels.

Washington Feb 2l.-Great Britain
 has submitted to her allies. France
 and Russia, the proposals made by
 the United States government de.
 signed to eDd the menace to neutral
 commerce arising from the retalia-
 tory measures of the European bel
 liserents toward each other
 Briefly the American proposals
 which have been submitted to both
 England and Germany seek the eimi-
 nation by Germany of the recently
 prescribed war zone around Great
 Britain and Ireland with its dangers
 to ncutra shipping through mines and submarine toIpedoes and the
 adoption by all the belligerents of a
 definite policy with regard to the
 shipment of foodstufs destined for
 the civilian population of their enc
 mics.
 1t is not expected that a reply to | the informal communication from the
 American government will be re- | eeiyed here for at least two days. From such preliminary obseryat ione
 as American diplomatic officers l abroad already have made. there is said to be some encouragement in | the manner of the reception of the | proposals at London Germany is in-
 clined toward an acceptance of the l suggestions, it is understood. but
 upon the attitude of Great Britain de- bends the next move in the situation
 The strong opposition which the ] Scandinavian countries, Italy, Hol. 1 land and other neutrals have assumed 1 toward the reta.iatory measures
 adopted by the belligerents is playing
 a considerable part in the situation
 Officials while reticent about what l has been said to Germany and Great Britain in the latest communications
 do not deny that the gravity of the 1 whole situation has been made unmis- 1 takabiy clear In some quarters to-
 day the suggestion was made but i without confirmation from sources usual well informed that an em bargo on exports of foodstufls from 1 the United States to both the allies
 and Germany was being considered a
 the next step in the event of an abso | .Hte rejection of the American plan | for ameliorating the situation. It became known that the latest communication described as conf. | dential memorandum was sent sun. | day 10 Ambassadors Page and Gerard after conferences between Pres dent Wilson. Secretary Bryan and Coun. seliOr Robert Lansing. The American government asked that the document be regarded for the present as strict ly confidential
 Some officials think the nest seri- ous effect of the submarine warfare on merchant ships and the restric
 tions imposed on the shipment of foodstuffs and conditional contraban0 has yet to develop. They believe that if the present situation continues American exports win drop to con siderable extent.
 There is no concealment either of the feeling in high official quarters that if the present tension over the attitude of the belligerents continues and any American lives are proved to have been lost as a result of their ac tivities, the Washington government may be called upon to abandon It's present attitude of friendliness to- ward al the warning powers.
 While there was no official com
 ment today on the sinking of the American steamers Carib and Evelyn because of the absence of definite in- formation as to the causes of their destruction it is understood that the latest communication from the United States urging an acceptance of it's proposals deals with the grave dan gers to neutral vessels that have arisen through the mines already laid and threats to strew more of the ex- Dlosves in the high seas.
 It is taken for granted that the re- ports that the captains of the two vessels followed instructions given them by British naval officers will he hroagat to the attention of the Lon don foreign office so that the British