The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-17
WILL GERMANY ASK FOR ARB|TRAT|ONOF POINTS AT ISSUE? Think Germany Will Make Conditional Compliance
 to American Demands NO REPORT YET FROM AMBASSADOR GERARD European Diplomats Say Germany Will Settle Questions by an Agree
 ment to Get Food Shipment
 Restrictions Removed

Washington, May 16.-Without word from Ambassador Gerard as to Germany, , attitude toward the recent American note. official Washington attached much sig nificance today to intimations in diplo- matic quarters here friendly to Germany that the reply might contain an offer to suspend attacks without warning on merchant ships. if the United States would renew its informal proposals for unrestricted passage of foodstuffs to Ger. man civilians.
 We'll informed European diplomats as. serted that Germany most certainly would offer to settle questions at issue by arbi. tration or diplomacy. or with an agree ment to abandon submarine warfare while the discussion was in progress.
 Officials have been reticent in discuss ing the idea of arbitration or proposal with reference to foodstuffs, but it is in- dicated that the situation has progressed to the point where the United States would not be likely to be satisfied with any conditional acauiescence in the Amer ican position. It was intimated, however, that if Germany accepted the American point of view. the, natural tendency of the United States of it's own initiative would be strongly to press It's contention on the right to ship foodstuffs to Ger many
 May Disarm Merchant Ships
 There is a likelihood. too. that some understanding might be reached through the medium of the American government whereby Germany could be assured defi- nitely that no merchant ships leaving the United States would be armed. making 1t possible for submarine commanders to ex- ercise the right of visit and search with impunity Whether Great Britain would consent to disarm all her merchant ves- sells carrying contraband, however, is a matter of conjecture.
 That the question of permitting Ameri- cans to travel on armed merchantmen may be taken under consideration soon is intimated in well informed quarters On the other hand some officials believe there will be little necessity for this as Great Britain already has informally agreed not to arm her vessels plying be- tween British and American ports
 What is regarded as one of the hopeful signs in the general situation is the con fidence reflected in official and diplo. matic quarters that Germany wal
 the United States at least half way and Will suspend for the time being her sub marine attacks without warning during the diplomatic correspondence.
 In this connection, there has been much comment here over the recent announce ments from London that Great Britain did not understand from Germany's an- swer last March that the principle of submarine warfare would be abandoned. It was noted that the same misunder- Q avnc 1rhn Ha ox.I British replies were received to the American proposal for the abandonment by Germany of submarine warfare and the use of mines in return for American supervision of the distribution of food stuffs if England agreed to their uHre- stricted passage to Germany when con signed to civilians.