The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-25
President May Possibly Con-
slider Embargo Unless Safety
Of Ships Be Guaranteed.
Would Create
ProfoundImpression
Allies Are Relying On This
Country for Food to See
Them Through the War
Scant News of Ships Sunk.

Washington, Feb. 24-~-The negotia
lions which Ambassador Gerard
initiated in Berlin with view to OBJ
tanning a modega lion OF the British
policy respecting the shipment Of
food to Germany and the German OPP
erations in her war zone are still III
progress but without any definite re-
suits as yet.
The am basSador 5 proposals are
based on The statement in the Ger
man note TO the United States that
Germany is ready 10 deliberate with
the United States concerning any
measures which might secure the
safety of legitimate shipping OF neu-
trails in the war zone" The value OF
this invitation was considerably di-
minished however. by the statement
in the same note that efforts In this
direction may be rendered very din
cult by two circumstances-tirst the
misuse of neutral flags by British mer-
chant vessels. and. second. the contra
band trade already mentioned espe-
cially In war materials in neutral yes
sells"
Onicials Not Optimistic.
For this reason officials here are
not very optimistic as regards the re-
suits OF the new negotiations which.
Guide Great Britain as well as Ger
many Nothing less than the most
radical measures will induce Great
Britain to change her policy In re-
gard 10 the shipment Of foodstuffs u
Germany or to give up the rfght she
claims for her shipping TO use neu
trail fags to avoid capture or destruc-
ton 1t was pointed out here today
that Great Britain already has had
1yA al
States In connection with the Wfl-
helmina case the guarantee OF Ger
many that imported foodstuffs would
reach the armed forces OF Germany
and also Germanys offer TO have the
distribution of such imported supplies
supervised ny American consular of
ficers Great Britain rejected the
plea Of the United States In the Will
helmina case. Had she been willing
to accept these German guarantees,
she would. 1t is believed. have let the
Wilhelmina proceed with her cargo
to Germany.
Consequently, in view of this rec
ord. there lis little hope here that Am
hassador Gerard's discussion with the
German government Will lead to any
thing.
A Strong Argument.
There was a report current here to-
day that President Wilson might
exert upon Great Britain the only
kind of pressure which. it is admitted
is likely to produce any results on the
British policy. The President. II was
suggested, might demand Of both
Great Britain and Germany satisfac-
tory guarantees of the safety OF Amer
lean shipping in the war zones under
the threat that IL such guarantees
are not forthcoming he would ask
Congress to authorize an embargo
upon the shipment Of fooistuffs. par
ticularly grains from the United
States.
No confirmation of this report was
obtainahle. 1t was generally con.
coded, however. that intimation Of
such action upon the part Of this gov
eminent could not fail to produce q
profound impression among the allied
governments as they are relying upoI
the United States to great extent
as a source OF supplies. At the sa me
time. though. it would stir up strons
feeling In this country.
|, Confirmation of the sinking Of the
American ship Garth was received al
the State Department today, but the
department does not feel that 1t ha.
received SUFFICIENT evidence OF the
sinking of either the Evelyn or tbs
Garth to warrant any positive conclu
sions
Ship Outside Of Prescribed Route.
Minister VanDyke, cabling from
The Hague. seemed to confirm tbs
statement in Berlin that the Carl,