The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-03
BRITAIN WILL BAR
FOOD FOR ENEMIES
Not Only Germany but Aus
tria and Turkey Will Be
Affected.
TO SEIZE WILHELMINA

WAsutNGroN, Feb. 1.-The status OF
the cargo of the American ship wilhel-
nina, now on the seas bound for Ham
burg with a cargo OF foods,uffs. may
soon be an issue between the United
States and Great Britain.
Notice of the intention VI the British
Government to seize the cargo OF the
wilhelmina as soon rs the vessel Is met
by British sea patrols was received to-
day by the state Department: IN des-
patch from Ambassador Page at Lon
don. He has been Informed that the
British Government holds that the re-
cent German decree by which the Gov
eminent assumed control OF III supply
OF foodstuffs within the empire amounts
to an appropriation OF the nations food
supply. The British Government holds,
therefore. that all cargocs Of foodstuffs
consigned to Germany must be regarded
as being consigned to the German Gov
eminent and OF hostile destination.
Ambassador Page has been Informed,
however. that since the Nthc.mina
sailed from New York with her cargo
without knowledge Of this German de-
cree there viii 10 no proceedings against
the ship and that the owners Of the
vessels cargo will be preserved from
any loss.
1t is understood that III, intention OF
the British Government Is to pay for
the cargo what the consignors would
have received If they had I'D it in
Hamburg. rs intended. '-he l.. s. Greene
commission firm OF -. Louis Is the
conslgnor OF the cargo. II has
been notified by the state Department
OF Ambassador Pages communications.
The state Department has received
from the German Ambassador official as
surance that under tho terms Of the
decree regarding foodstuffs. importations
OF food from the United States Will he
exempted from its provisions and that
the Government will guarantee that
cargoes Of this character. consigned TO
and intended for the civilian population
OF Germany. will not be taken over by
the Government The British commune
cation. however, shows that London does
not accept this assurance as satisfac-
tory.
No reply to the British communication
has been made by the State Depart
ment and 1t is not probable this Gov
eminent will have anything TO say until
II is more fully informed on the subject.
The Department cablod Ambassador
Gerard at Berlin this afternoon TO send
Al once to Washington tho full text Of
the German Governments decree. He
gas asked for this text last week. but
IL has not been received. When the text
has been studied the State Department
will determine whethr the British view
h. NaI stn..s Na.ts
eminent will insist upon the assurances
given by the German Government being
accepted by the British Government.
The rule is that foodstuffs. which are
conditional contraband. are not 10 be
seized unless 1t can be proved they are
destined for the armed forces OF tho
enemy or one ~ the civil depa rtmerts
OF the Government The British claim
In that under the German decree all food
stuffs consigned to Germany must be
regarded as being consigned to the Ger
man Government.
The same policy viii nc pursued by
Great Britain in regard to cargoes Of
foodstuffs consigned to Austria and
Turkey, both OF which have taken &C
ton similar to that OF Germany.
The W!helmina was the first cargo
OF foodstuhs that had been shipped
from the United States 10 Germany since
the war began. The exporters were
hopeful, though consigniuE the cargo to
American agents in Germany. TO open
the way for further shipments without
Interference by Great Britain.
The new policy Of Great Britain will
have virtually no effect on United States
trade except as IL might have developed.
Since the war began there has been
practically 10 export trade with Ger
many except in cotton.