The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-03
MAKES PROPOSALS
e. S. WILL AAlELIORATE DAN
GER sTO ALL NEUTRALS.
INFORMAL Notes Sent
Belief Most Commonly Held is That
This Country Has Proposed Some
Form of Supervision Over Distr1-
button of Foodstu1fs in Germany
blockade to be Cancelled?
Blockade to be Cancelled?

Proposals have been made infor-
mally by the United States to both
Great Britain and Germany suggest
ing a basis for an understanding on
the subjects CT foodstuffs for the
civilian population of belliserents
and submarine warfare against ner-
chant ships. These proposals have
been guarded with the utnoSt Sec
recy and officials lave not revealed
their nature because Of the delicacy
of the negotiations.
Coincident with the revelation that
new move had been m..de by the
Washington government came dis
patches telling IF the blowing up OF
a second American vessel, the steam
ship Carib, near the German coast,
an incident which increased anxiety
on the part Of officials for an early
understanding with the belligerents.
The wreck of the first vessel, the
Evelyn, was viewed by President Will
son as tragic accident due to pos
sible failure Of the captain to heed
the German. admiralty's instructions
respecting the location Of mine fields.
! Officials believed the Carib disaster
was Of a similar nature, though they
had no official advices
Proposals made to the belligerents,
| It is known, are of far-reaching i'm
portance. They were embodied in
confidential memorandum which both
Ambassadors Page and Gerard were
instructed to take up Informally with
the respective foreign Offices at Lon
don and Berlin. The new communi-
cations ere not replies to the notes OF
Germany and Great Britain, though
they relate to the same subject. They
constitute what is described in diplo-
macy as "infornal inquiries" and fre-
Qucntly, if accepted, become formal.
The belief most commonly held
was that the United States had pro-
| posed some form of supervision over
the distribution of foodstuffs to the
civilian population Of Germany, eth.
er by American consul agents OF
American organization. Germany has
offered to abandon her submarine
warfare if assured that ships laden
with foodstuffs for Germany will not
be interrupted.
President Wilson discussed with
the cabinet the situation produced by
the declaration Of the war zone anc
it was said the replies from England
and Germany to the informal repre-
sentations would have considerable
bearing on the final course of the
American government.
Earlier in the daJ the president
indicated that he had not decided
whether the notes received from Ger
many and Great Britain on the ses
; war zones and the use of neutra
, flags required rejoinders.
Officials spoke guardedly but will
, no concealment Of their apprehen
sions over the situation which nigh
develop If American lives were los
as a result of a submarine attack
The Carib was the seconl ship in
sured by the government war risk in
surance bureau There was 1926, 5,00'
, on her cargo and s22,253 on her hull
With a loss on the Evelyn, the bu
reau probably will have to pay tota
= Of S659,000, which about equals tn
Undoubtedly both cases will be tn
subject Of civil suits for damages b,
the bureau.
Berlin reports: James ". Gerard
American ambassador to Germany
has presented to the foreign Office tn
American note embodying the Ameri
. : can proposals for settlement Of tn
, situation arising from the Britisl
embargo on foodstuffs into German
and the German warfare against Brit
ish mercantile shipping.
t It Is understood proposals wer
: submitted simultaneously in London
No statement regarding the natur
S of these proposals or the German at
!. titude toward them can be obtained
= but it is believed there is at least
S prospect Of their acceptance by Ger
many.