New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-26
SPECIAL RISKS FOR
BRITISH PORTS
Continued from page I

indicate that Americas latest repre-
sensations will, if they contemplate ar
ranging an Anglo German bargain re-
qarding food and the blockade, be
futile. At the American Embassy and
the Foreign Office all information as TO
the character of President wilson's
latest note was withheld, except that
in British circles il is stated the note
is receiving consideration and that Its
friendly tone is appreciated.
Certainly the present situation opens
up great possibilities Of neutral DIS
satisfaction. 1t is generally presumed
here, and there are many facts TO sup
mort the view, that the Allies blow Will
be directed at the whole German com
merce. ingoing and outgoing. If this
is true, it means considerable losses TO
American shippers. If, for instance.
cotton is placed on the contraband list
tn. losses will be considerable. The
government here, however, Will doubt
less explain if this action is taken
that in circumstances like these any
measures against Germany are JUS
tilted. 81.
Public Interest Quickened.
The proposals Of Washington 10
Great Britain and Germany, which are
assumed here TO embrace the abandon
ment of Germany's self-declared war
zone and the adoption by the belllger-
ents of some definite policy regarding
foodstuffs to the civilian populations,
have noticeably quickened the public
interest both in this country and IN
Germany in this delicate diplomatic
situation.
The British press, as general thlng'
is restrained in tone, but the aver
age Englishman plainly resents what
he considers a hint at an attempt TO
interfere with the absolute blockade
of Germany should Great Britain care
to enforce this with her sea power. In
the meanwhile and in spite of the sink
ing of four more British merchantmen,
I involving the loss of four lives, Great
Britain still holds off from declaring
| food destined to Germany to be con
/ traband. 1t is believed, If this step IS
! taken. that it will be postponed until
| the American proposal has been dis
cussed at length. ,r-
/ Just what this proposal is the public
neither here nor in Berlin Is aware;
/ Its only information has been CLEANED
| from the meagre and qualified dis
matches from Washington. There would
/ seem TO be no doubt, however, that
| Great Britain will reserve the right to
/ declare food to be cOntraband al any
| time she deems il necessary, especially
as Germany's so-cal!ed blockade has
been enforced with all the power Ger
many has at her command for a week
past.
Cabinets Feeling Indicated.
How the British Cabinet feels about
this matter would appear to have been
plainly indicated by the statements
/ made by Foreign Secretary Grey, Pre-
mier Asouith and First Lord OF the Ad-
/ miralty Churchill. all OF whom nave
more than limited that drastic retail
atory measures might be expected at
any moment
1--WE are obliged to say at once that
/ there can be no bargaining on this sub
iect," says "The Westminster Ga
/ zette" in referring TO the American
notes. The editorial continues:
"The pressure of our sea power is
perfectly legitimate operation OF war
{ Germany had full warning from her
/ own economists what must happen II
she risked a prolonged war with a SUI
/ perlOr sea power By making gram sup
plies public property, and stu more by
putting her population on rations, she
entities us 10 treat those supplies as
contraDGnd Cf war. On her own prln-
ciple of limited consumption, the sup
plies of the civil population could not
be increased in the manner suggested
The results simply would be to leave
the government large supplies for mill
tary purposes.
who can suppose that if the posi-,
tions were reversed and Germany were
/. the superior sea power she would listen
to such a proposition If made by US
Ii may be q German necessity to win
the war by starving her population
but it cannot be incumbent on us Ia
| facilitate her scheme of conquest by
saving her civilian population from liza.
bilities which she deliberately incurred
/ on their behalf"