Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-25
SECRET NOTE SENT
TO TWO COUNTRIES
United States Hopes 10
Reach Understanding
About Foodstuffs.
wv ASHINGTON, Feb. 9s-Pro-
w posals have been made in

w AsHINGToN, Feb. ss-Pro-
w posals have been made in
formally by the United States gov
ernment 20 both Great Britain and
Germany suggesting a basis for an
understanding on the subject of
foodstuffs for the civilian population
Of belligerents and submarine war
fare against merchant ships.
These proposals have been guarded
with the utmost secrecy and their
nature has not been revealed by Of
ficials who are reluctant to discuss
them because of the deliCacy of the
negotiations R
simultaneously with the revelation
tonight that a new move had been
made by the Washington government
came dispatches telling of the blow
ing up Of a second American vessel
the steamship Carib, near the Ger
man coast, an incident which in
creased the anxiety on the part OF
officials for an early understanding
with belligerents on pending quCs-
t!ons.
The wreck of the first vessel, the
Evelyn. was viewed by President Will
son as a tragic accident due to the
heed the German admlralty's instruc-
tions respecting the location Of its
mine fields Officials were inclined
tonight to think the Carib disaster
was Of similar nature, though they
had no official advice.
Proposals Are Important.
AS for the proposals made TO the
belligerents, 1t Is known that they
are of far-reaching importance They
are in no sense replies to the notes
of Germany and Great Britain
though they relate to the same sub
ject The belief most commonly
held here is that some form of su-
pervision over the distribution Of
foodstuffs to the civilian population
of Germany, either by American con-
sular agents or American organiza-
tions, had been proposed. 1t was re-
called that such proposal was made
by Germany, but could not be put
into effect without the consent Of
all the belligerents.
Germany has offered to abandon her
submarine warfare If assured that
ships laden with foodstuffs for Ger
many will not be interrupted by
Great Britain.
President Wilson discussed with his
cabinet today the general situation
produced by the declaration Of a sub
marine war on merchant vessels and
IT was said later that the replies from
England and Germany to the informal
representations would have q consid-
erable bearing on the final course Of
the American government.
May Not Answer Notes.
Earlier in the day the president in
Il fAA % l..
cided whether the notes received from
Germany and Great Britain on the
sea zones and the use OF neutral flags
required rejoinders, as it was not
yet apparent whether there was any
necessity TO restate the position of the
United States so emphatically ex-
pressed in the correspondence with
both belligerents.
Tho general impression was that
the United STAGES government had re-
iterated informally TO the belligerents
the seriousness with which IL viewed
The situation, especially the possible
effect on American commerce as a
result Of the retaliatory me ssures Of
England and Germany toward each
other Officials spoke guardedly but
with no concealment OF their appre-
tensions over the situation which
might develop IL American lives were
lost as result Of submarine at
tack.
To some extent this tension has
been revealed in the accidents which
American ships have met in the mine
fields. though the difficulty OF fixing
responsibility for such mishaps has
prevented the Washington govern
ment from taking decisive stand in
the matter.