New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-05
.BERNSTORFF PLEA
OPPOSED BY BRITISH
Trick Seen in Request for
U. S. Consul to Disperse
Wilhelmina Cargo.
GERMAN ARMY MIGHT
USE ALL HOME FOOD
London Foreign Office Insists
Ship Be Seized as Test of
kaiser's Decree.

Washington, Feb. Much interest
was manifested at the State Depart
ment in the proposal to-day OF Count
Bernstorf, the German Ambassador,
that an American consular officer su-
pervise the distribution Of the cargo OF
foodstufs on the American steamer
Wilhelmins, 20 make sure that il
reached the civilian population and not
the armed forces of Germany
As the Wilhelmina is on the high
seas and the British government has
announced its purpose OF OBTAINING her,
bringing her into port and buying the
cargo, diplomatic negotiations on the
subject are not expected to develop I'M
I'll the ship actually is taken into Brit
ish jurisdiction.
State Department officials declined to
say whether or not American consular
officers would be authorized to super
wise the distribution OF the foodstuffs,
and in British circles il was minated
that Great Britain probably would not
permit the cargo Of the Wilhelmins to
proceed under such an arrangement,
which, If applied to all cargoes of food
stuffs, might develop into a plan where
by grain and -four now in Germany
could be utilized entirely for the armed
forces, while the civilian population
was fed by imported products.
London, Feb. 4-Great Britain has
decided that il the American steamer
Wilhelmina, now on her way with a
cargo of foodstuffs for Germany, is
intercepted her cargo will be submitted
to a prize court, so that the new stu
alton arising out OF the action OF Ger,
many in ordering that all grain and
four shall be placed under control OF
the government may be regularized. In
a statement issued tonight the Brit
ish Foreign Office says:
"The new German decree makes 1t
evident that all grain and -four are 70
PASS under control OF the German gov
eminent, and they must, Therefore,
when imported, be regarded as virtual
lv consigned TO the eGrman govern
rlent or 20 the authorities under their
control. This creates a novel situation,
and il is probable that if the destina-
tion and cargo Of the Wilhelmins are
as supposed the cargo will, II the yes
sci is intercepted, be submitted TO a
prize court III OIutI NHaI lHV h'" ''N'
alton created b. the German decree
may be examined and decision
reached upon it after full considera-
ton.
There is no question Of taking any
proceedings against the vessel and the
owners Of the vessel will be indemni-
fed for any delay caused TO it. and the
shippers OF the cargo compensated for
any loss caused to them by the action
of the British authorities.
There is no truth whatever in the
statement made in the press that IT
has been decided that other such con-
signments will be seized, together
with the vessels, without compensation
10 neutrals, for no decision has yet
been taken to depart from previously
existing rules or practice.
THE apparent intention, however, OF
the German government 10 sink mer-
chant ships by submarines, without
bringing them into port or providing
accommodation for their crews and
regardless of the loss of civilian lives,
and the attempt to effect this even
against a hospital ship, has raised
very seriously the question whether
Great Britain should adopt in retalia-
ton more stringent measures against
German trade.
at is recognized that when any such
decision to this effect is reached due
care must be taken not to infict loss
upon neutral ships which sailed before
any warning has been given or de-
cision announced.