The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1915-02-16

Washington, Feb. 10. Wi itb only
three days remaining before the Ger
man admiralty proposes TO carry in
to effect It's proclamatIon' ordering a
submarine campaign on enemy mer-
chant ships. Developments in the dip
lomatic situation moved rapidly to-
day through the medium of the Unit
ed States government custodian of
the diplomatic interests OF the var
ious beligerents. Count Won Bern
storff the German ambassador, de
livered a note to the United >tates
which was promptly transmitted to
Great Britain in which Germany Of
fered to recede from her plan OF de
stroying enemy merchant ships, if re-
strictions placed by the allies on
shipments Of conditional cOuta0and
and foodstuffs destined to the civilian
population of Germany we're renewed.
Otherwise the note announced Ger
many proposes to put into effect tle
original proclamation adding also
the strewing Of mines i'm waters sur
rounding Great Britain and Ireland.
Alleged arming OF British merchant
vessels is given by the German gov
ernment as ground Tor attacking
enemy merchant ships without search
or previous visit, regarding merchant
craft hereafter as in the cate2ory oi
warships.
The ambassadors communication
was sent from Berlin before the re-
cent American note was delivered by
Ambassador Gerard and is supple
mental to the German foreign Office
memorandum on the subject oil the
new war zones
At the time the German amhassa-
dor conferred with Secretary BRYAN
and Counsellor Landsing the com
plete text OF the British reply to the
American note of protest on neutral
shipping dated December 26 was Ie-
ceived. 1t was aid before President
Wilson.
Besides giving statistic. of neutral
commerce and entering a genera de-
NAL that there had been amy unWar-
ranted interference with legitimate
shipments the new note contains
statement from Great Britain that the
recent government decree taking over
the flour and grain supply in Ger
many required added precautions on
the part Of the allies that additional
contraband might not be permitted 10
reach the armed forces Of the enemy.
The document constitutes further
statement Of the British government
on the legal questions involved. Ihe
full text viii not be given out unti
after an agreement tor publication
is reachedwith the British forei2n
office.
Another development which bears
directly on the submarine warfare
threatened by Germany was the dis
Matching of telegram by the state
department today to Ambassa tor
Page instructing him to submit to the
British foreign office evidence gwen
here by the oWGers Of the American
steamer Wilhelmina to prove that her
cargo consists OF foOdstulfs detaine
for non-combatants and not subject to
seizure. The suggestion is made that
unless Great Britain has sufficient
grounds not yet advanced for doing
otherwise the ship be permitted at
once to proceed with her cargo to her
destination.
From the German point OF view the
Wilhelmina constitutes test case
on which revolVes the entire question
of feeding Germany. The German am
bassador here in a recent note to the
American government pointed out
that Germany had modified its de-
cree so that imported foodstuffs
would not be taken over by the gov
ernment and suggest that American
organizations or consular officers be
appointed to supervise the distri0u'
ton of the shipments so that it would
not reach the armed forces of Ger
many.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice, ambassador,
discussed the situation with the state
department officials.
on all sides it is admitted here that
the developements of the last few
days present a most serious situation
for American commerce. Administr1
tion officials think that even through
assurances are given eventually BY
Germany that neutral SHIPS will no
be attacked, the effect of the wal