New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-25
Efforts of u. S. to Have
Food Decision Modified
Believed Futile.
NOTE NOW IN HANDS
OF GERMAN OFFICIALS
Concessions May Be Made, but
England Is Not Expected to
Accept Proposals.
rFros, Tn. Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, Feb. 24-Eforts on the
part of the United States to oring
about through diplomatic interchanges
anv real modification Of Great Britain's
determination to starve Germany into
submission as part OF her military
campaign are foredoomed to faiiure'
according to opinion prevalent IN
Washington to-day. 1t is believed tha'
IN. reason for the extraordinary Sc
crscv which has surrounded the latest
negotiations with Germany and Great
Britain with this end in view is that
the Administration saw small pros
pect of success from the start, and is
making representations to the two
leaders Of the combatant nations as a
final resort before returning to the
original position assumed by the
limited States in the first note Of pro-
test to Germany.
Great Britsin's objection TO the Ger
man appropriation decree whereby all
tn. cereal food supply OF the German
Empire Is diverted to the control OF
the government is not based upon a
suspicion that such a decree Will not
h. fairly administered in the event OF
it, direction being taken over oy the
dinIomatic and consular officials OF the
limited States, but upon the basis that
further importations Of food even II
consumed solely by the civil popuia-
tion Of Germany removes pressure
from the domestic food supply and
thereby leaves q vast additional guam
tity for the uses Of the army.
American Sincerity Shown.
The most recent representations 70
Germany are framed to impress tnas
nation with the entire sincerity OF the
United States in her efforts TO relieve
neutral shipping and neutral cargoes
tom the menace Of Germany's mines
and Submarines. 1t is felt to be Ger
n,arv,s due that the United STATES
abo,Id leave nc effort untried TO pre-
vant the possible spread Of the war
and the inclusion Of more nations tnah
nnw comprise the fighting line. inc
Tni,ed States has been officially maze
ecouainted with the state OF the puo,lc
- The Netherlands, for example,
I,hare II is reported that only oy dlnt
80 ,ha most strenuous efforts 10 pre-,
sorva outward .emblsnce OF heuVlsi
nnsition ia the government aple "
.xa;r on outbreak. ,
II /, known in Washington tnst :
d;snatch from The Hague, reiayeo VIC
Gondon. was drastically censored WIZ
~ The last twenty-four hours. In tnls
r.nort n was made to appear tnat the
Dn,ch Ministry was in daily communi-
c.tion with the diplomatic represents
t;vaS NJ all the nations at Inc hague.
7, 10 understood that the diplomstic
who were IN eonsulta-
49, ysith the ministry were the britlsn
~ Eranch ministers. The dispatch
raIated that there was renewed and ex-
,raotdinary activity in various depart
nsnts OF the Dutch government IL Is
Ia her. that these departments were
,hnse of war and marine, where there
has been a renewed impetus TO the al
ready high pressure therein wnich mas
existed since the outbreak OF the war
end the mobilization of the Dutch army.
Dutch Warning Reported.
The Netherlands, II is said, will treat
.;,h consideration and calmness any
sor,hcoming destruction Of Dutch mer-
chsntmen by mines, but Germany has
heen given peremptorily TO understand
ina the Dutch government will not
brook any mistakes" in the identihea.
ton of merchantmen by submarines and
war will follow the first mistake OF
this character -,
The same secretiveness which char
a.terized the high officials Of the State
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