Evening star., 1915-02-05
NO GROUND FOR PROTEST
BY u. S., is BELIEF HERE
Latin Americas May Speedily Con.
fer. However, on Means to Pro-
tec4 Neutral Commerce.
ENGLAND WILL RETAL1ATE
State Department officials, Though
Not Formally Notified, specu-
lating as to What British
Have in Mind.

Germany's declaration of a
naval war zone around Great
Britain and Ireland, including the
English channel and the northern
passage by the Shetland Islands,
is regarded here as one OF the
most serious developments OF the
war.
1t was regarded as highly pos
sible, for one thing, that it would
hasten the movement begun by
the Latin American countries for
a speedy conference of neutral
states to devise means to reduce
losses to neutral commerce to 4
minimum.
No Ground for Protest.
At first there were some intimations
In administration circles that 1t might
be. the subject of protest by the
United States, but the official views
developed that there was little or no
ground for that and it was recalled
that no protest was made when the
North sea was strewn with mines.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Ho1-
land have repeatedly addressed the
State Department here to secure Amer
ican backing for measures to relieve
distress In their own commerce, and
the latest German proclamation is ex-
pected to cause redoubled effort OF
all the neutra1s for measures to pro-
tect themselves.
Counselor Lansing of the State De-
partment took Secretary Bryan's chair
at the cabinet meeting today, in the
latter's absence.
Statement Not Yet Received.
Neither the State Department nor the
German embassy had received the lat
est Berlin admiralty statement today
and 1t was said at the German embas-
sy that the Berlin foreign Office prob
ably would deliver copies to diplomatic
representatives in Berlin and regard
that notice as sufficient. Yesterdays 8
proclamation is an extension of for
mer one delivered by Ambassador &C.
rard applying to the north and west
coasts of France
There is no precedent in dealing with
the question because heretofore sub
marines have played no important part
in warfare and all of the rules of in
ternationai law are framed with spe-
cial reference to ordinary ships.
The ordinary practices in taking prizes
ard dealing with the merchant ships Of an
enemy which it is not feasible to take as
prizes are clearly set out and estab-
hished by long usage. The merchant
men must be halted, boarded and either
made prizes or sunk But in the latter
case crew and passengers must be
taken off.
American officials are gravely con-
Icerned over the implied threat to sink
merchant ships. probably without
warming to non-combatant passengers
During consideration of the subject
by the State Department American
nariners probably will be expected to
heed the German warning and enter
for hidden waters only at their own
risk. precisely what they have been
doing in the North sea since notices
\ veral months ago from both the
british and German governments that
owing to the planting Of mines. 1t
would be regarded as within the war
zone.
Uncertain of British Intention.
The notice from the British govern
ment that 1t is contemplating retalia-
tion against German trade, though not
normally before the State Department
today, has given rise to much expecta-
tion on the part of officials as to what
the British have in mind. Although II
has been denied that any official decla-
ration that food supplies are contra
band has been issued, 1t Is believed
that the British notice forecasts the
speedy issue OF some such declarat ton
And In addition to thus trying to cut
off Germany's food supply by water
it is believed to be possible that the
British may make the blow more Sc
we're by prohibiting the transportation
OF cotton to Germany.
Cotton is a base of some forms OF
smokeless powder as well as the high
Explosive guncotton used in the wal
heads of torpedoes and submarine
mines Aside from depriving Germany
of that necessary article the British
enforcement of such an order would
deal a heavy blow to the German tex.
tile factories. which are now just be-
ginning to receive almost normal sup.
plies from the United States.
State Department officials indicated
that the German proclamation was an
ala gous in their minds to the strewins
OF mines in the North sea and a similar
announcement by Great Britain tha
neutral shipping might be imperilet
there. officials did not view the German
neutral ships II found in the war zone
but as a warning that all ships entel
there at their own risk.
Effect on Contraband.
While the German proclamation i
being carefully considered at the Stat
Department, officials manifested npcl
interest as to the probable effect q
the announcement on the movement O
American ships bearing munitions an,
contraband OF war to the allies Will
iS ha will ha
into French or English ports by war
ships of the allies. the rules of inter
national law provides that a neutra
vessel cannot be destroyed until takel
TO a prize court and duly condemned.
Under the declaration Of Londo1
however. a neutral vessel which is ceI
(Continued on Second PAgAl