The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-15
wilhelm is Irritated Over What Some Of the
German Newspapers Have Said and Asks
That Comments be Less Severe.
HAVE Been TONED DOWN
Kaiser and United States Ambassador to Hold
Conference, at Which the Situation Will
Be Thoroughly Discussed.

of protecting both English and Amer
lean lives.
Ambassador Won Bernstorff's hint
that the United States use her good
Offices to influence England to relax
her starvation orders against Ger
many, 1t was intimated, will result In
transmitting Germany's views infor-
mally to Ambassador Page at London,
with request that he endeavor to
have Ensland release the seized Amer
lean steamer Wilhelmina's cargo,
and in the future deal more leniently
with food shipments intended solely
for German civil consumption.
Germany's reply to the war zone
warning was expected at an early
moment. Oficials professed to see in
the reported prospective conference
between Kaiser Wilhelm and Amhas-
sador Gerard, tendency to discuss IN
friendly spirit, the American demands.
They also believed, however, that the
kaiser's answer would be like Won
Bernstorff' Snake England quit
starving Germany, else the world may
expect almost anything by way OF re-
taliation."
Favorable answer to the British
mote against flag misuse was anticipat-
ieds .ssss -
The Mexican situation was giving
the state department some concern to-
day, though officials expressed the be-
lief that Spain will treat first VITA
the United States II Its efforts to have
Spanish citizens in Mexico protected.
The department was inclined to dis
count reports that Spain wants the
powers to intervene in Mexico and
was loath to believe that the powers
would take such a step.
No word had come early today cons
firming Italy's reported warning t.
Germany that Italian commerce In the
war zones must be protected, but Of
fetal circles credited the story and
considered 1t probable that italy has
made the note even sharper than the
| United States note on the same sub
| ject.
Carranza's decree that special and
confidential agents must deal with
him directly. will probably alter but
not cripple United States diplomatic
dealings at Mexico City and elsewhere.
(! In answer to Germany's charges
that America Disseminated against
Germany in that it objected to the lat
tiers war zone decree without object
ing to England's similar North sea
order, officials today pointed out that
England offered as much protection as
possible to neutral shipping in her
area, and moreover, that she did not
voice any intent of destroying indis-
lcriminateIy, vessels within the zone.
Her area, too, was a mined zone,
whereas Germanys is manifestly an
area In which submarines expect to
deal death blows to commerce.
Note from Germany.
! WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-1n note
1 presented to the state department to-
/ dav by German Ambassador Won
Bernstorff, Germany reiterated her
! request that neutral shipping avoid
! the German war zone and take, in
stead. the sea track around northern
Scotland. The war zone decree was
i frankly called measure OF retalia'
tion against England.
/ The note declared Germany has In.
{! formation that English merchantmen
iare being armed, preparatory to 60
/ inc out in groups in an effort to.sinR
German submarines by bombs and
(, other weapons. Under such circum.
! stances Germany contended to stoT
i and search vessels would be out OF
Il the question the only recourse being
4 to fight It added that English ships
are planning also to use neutral flags
IN their dashes across the forbidden
area. >.
Il (Continued on page 70