Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1915-02-19
Replying to American Pro.
test Suggests Warships
Convoy Non Contra
band Cargoes.
WASHINGTON FINDS
CAUSE TO WORRY
Germany's Clever NGte Conveys No
Hint OF keceding from Position. and
Suggests Course That Would En-.
br0iI L. :. with England.

Washington, Feb. 1S.-After an
analytical consideration of Germany's
rote to the United States in reply to
her establishment of rights in the
war zone, officials at the white house
and at the state department this
afternoon concluded that Germany's
reply is friendly, clever, positive and
clear in all of its declarations.
The text OF the note as given in
press dispatches this afternoon was
regarded by officials as authentic.
Talks with state department officials
and navy department officials, show
that this government has yet no
answer to the note. and that any
new steps" must be predicated on
some concrete happening to Amer
lean lives or shipping in the German
war zone
Admittedly, the new feature Of the
triangular negotiations as to the war
zone is Germany's sugge ston that
United States warships convoy Amer
lean merchantmen on the sole con-
dition that the commercial vessels
shall net carry contraband of war.
The essential cleverness Of this
suggestion was apparent to the dip
lomatic mind in some quarters at the
state department. Officials pointed
out that rs cargoes such as those of
the Wilhermina and any future car
goes OF foodstuffs are not contraband
under policy, Germany would ex-
pect under her convoy suggestion
that the United States navy would
see to 1t that foodstuffs are not
interfered with in transit TO neutral
ports.
Would EmbrOil u. s.
Germany, of course knows that
Great Britain has declared foodstuffs
contraband of war, and has told the
United States point blank that she
will seize any such cargo. 1t is be-
lieved from hints thrown out by or
ficials that the convoy proposition
must be considered by the cabinet to-
morrow because that suggestion of
Germany "must be answered"
Secretary of State Bryan was
asked what the state department was
going to do about it. He said he was
going to answer but perhaps it was
matter for another department of
the government"
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels was
therefore asked if the question OF
convoy had come to him. He said it
had not.
So far as could be learned from the
departments having direct relations
to ships and commercial vessels
entering the war zone, no messages
have been sent to them. Mr.. Bryan
intimated that vessels about to enter
the Zone or en- route were familiar
with the circumstances before they
sailed.
U. s. Not Decided.
Mr.. Bryan was asked If this gov
eminent had considered before it
sent its note to Germany threatening
to hold her to "strict accountable
ity" for events that might endanger
American rightc and property in the
zone, what this government would do
to make good its declaration. Mr..
Bryan declined to answer Eyes" or
mo" whether the contingency had been
considered to the extent that de-
termination had been reached.
There was only one opinion among
officials after the consideration Of
the note and it's collateral issues to-
night This was that neither Great
Britain nor Germany had given any
official guarantee for the safeguard
ing Of American merchantmen in the
war zone and that the United States
was puzzled as to how that protec-
ton could be furnished.
1t is that big question to which the
cabinet must address itself tomorrow.
and. in default of solution. the
United States must let American ves-
sells continue their business subject
to all the dangers from submarines
and mines in the war zone. Tho
German note itself indicates clearly
fCoc+;puod an paua ~