The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-17
u. sAWAIT|NG
FORMAL REPLIES
NO FURTHER MOVE MADE IN
DIPLOMATIC coNTRo-
VERSY
WITH ENGLAND
AND GERMANY
High oficiaIs Admit Gravity of
Situation, Ras Decline to Dis
cuss fature Steps
fnu I.ocln,ed Pmss.l

WASfy}NGTGNt Feb. 16.-The Unit
ed States made no further move to-
day I'm the diplomatic controversy
with Great Britain and Germany over
the use OF neutral flags. the sub
marine campaign on merchantmen,
and the shipment OF foodstuffs to
Germany. Offieiais awaited formal
replies from Great Britain and Ger
many to the recent American notes
On the subjects
Ambassador Page at London, and
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin sent dis
patches to the state department tell.
ing OF informal conferences with the
high officials of Great Britain and Ger
many, respectively, but did not indi-
cate that the former intended to al
ter its policy on Shipments of condi-
tional contrabatid TO civilians, or that
the latter would recede from its an
nounced Intention of waging a sub
marine war on enemy, merchant ships.
Ambassadors Gerard reported that
German officials were friendly and
disposed to take into consideration
the embarrassmepts OF the United
States and ether nsqtralc In the sit
uation.
while acaiting answers to the var
| officials here, admitting the gravity
|sof the diplomatic tdtuation, were dis
inclined to discuss future steps or
policy. rs Z ;sS 8,
one Suggest :on OF he German gov
Iernment that Amer can nrganiza-
Hons s6f cons IL. os aparTise
/ the distrsssut tssy;s. 81 49bdstntfs tas g.
| guarantees or. IT'S iisefg 10 civilian
seems 10 be; Set with more diff iculties,
than were originally evident. While
making9 il clear that the subject had
not been considered formally, officials
stated gtcti procedure could be un-
dertakeu iiby the United States only
with tho acquiescence OF all the helli-
gerefits. ~ q,
The situation ia Belgium saA In
Germany proper were in this respect
held by State department officials
to be- e+analogous. IT. was revealed,
however, that before Minister Whit
lock and American organizations were
permitted to supervise fobd distri-
button in Belgium the consent of
Germany as well as of Great Britain
had been obtained. For q neutral
government to assist the civilian pop
ulation of q belligerent to obtain sup
plies without the consent of the 9TH
er belligerents would De unneutrai.
according to American officials.
But while the situation presents
many difficulties. officials are still
hopeful that an understanding on the
question of fcodstnfis will be reached
which may avert the Necessity which
Germany declares will ensue for maxi
Ing war on enemy merchant ships.
The British government has made
its position clear on the principles un-
der which conditional contraband will
not be interferred with when destin-
ed to civilians In an enemy country; 4
while the German government has
stated that IL 1t can get food supply
for It's civilian population it will
recede from its submarine campaign.
These declarations contain no con-
currence OF Views, but officials say
there Is always the possibility that
through the good Offices OF an inter-
mediary common grond for an un-
derstanding may be reached.
In this connection the British sup
Elementary note. replying to the
American note OF prDteet about con-
traband and shipping generally was
iaia before President Wilson today.
1t contains lengthy arg g.sment on the
subject of American shipping and
concludes with observations on the
subject, of conditional contraband and
the decree taking over the supply OF
flour In Germany BY the government;
4 l-7fI . = I