The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-19
Urges United States to Use In
fluence to Have England
Raise Embargo on Food
Charges England
With Responsibility
Declares the Making of Food
for Civilians Contraband Vi
olates All Principles of In
ternational Law

Washington, Feb. ls.--Offeials
here found in. the text of the German
note regarding the war zone there is
government. The text Of the German
communication has not yet been re-
go fed. ofricialiy AT the department..
but the pubi!sne* version il accepted
as authentic.
What t. regarded as the most prom
;slng feature of tho German mole. So
fsr as the preservation of American
shipping interests Is concerned. is the
statement that the German govern
ment Is ready TO discuss with the
United states possible measures that
may be adopted sor the protects on of
neutral vessels In the new area o.
operations. The value Of this sug-
gession. however. Is considerably les
sened by the statement OF Germany
that such deliberations will he made
most difficult because of the alleged
hse of neutral flags 10y British ship
l,sne and tn" fact that the neutral
vessels bound for British ports are
presumably carrying contrab band
IL is the Intention Of tho State De-
bartment. however. Ia make the M ost
ef such suggestions az Germany Of
fers, In the hope that they will open
tire way 10 ? lnore satisfactory situa-
ltan than exists AT present. A sec
end note will he prepared BY the
| nlted States fust as promptly as cir
substances will permit with view
10 continuing the discussion along this
Tine.
Canvos- Not Practicable.
/ lle only ether suggestion found in
the German note aside from its blunt
recommendation THAT American ship
ping be kcpt our of the prasrrisaesi
area. IL IL does not seek injury. vas
that proposing the conveying OF
American merchantmen By vessels
Of the United States navy Though
The German note expresses tserina NY =
willingness 10 discuss with the United
States means by which this can he
made practicable, of'iciais here are
inclined to reject the suggestion az
~ holly ont OF the question There is
no sentiment ais1eruible in admins
srRtion quarters In favor OF anything
thai would take American naval YES
sells into tna area of war operations.
and II seems certain that the next
AMERICAN ncts will contain a COM
piet. reteciion Of this suggestion. The
German suggestion that conveys be
sent Into waters which the note as
rerts viii forthwith be strewn with
sAbHFss a~ tt~aAatA az S0i9AS4E fSS
.han astounding.
Danger Great Prom Mines.
II read here. the German note
se.:ns 20 iac!cate that danger IN the
saS@ war zone from mines will be as
great as ,'let from the submarines II
is stated positively that German naval
eomman i@~s have been instructed to
refrain frorf violent action against
American merchant vessels SO far as
these can Re recognized" Even this
assurance, however. does no; remove
the existing fear that the German
operations ore going to be such that
a suspicion that the American nag
be "A disguise will be made the basis
af a torpado attack Positive assur-
anees that .l.oroug., investigation will
lie made before am attack Is made was
asked in he American note TO Ger
many.
The two governments are in dia-
metrically opposite positions in regard
to the main point of the American
note The American note declared
that the United States would hold
Germany To "a strict accountability
for loss % American life and property