New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07

d.v did not serve 10 clear up mate
rieliv the problem with when 'he
limited States is confronted IN the pres
ent exigencv. That protest from 'ne
limited States against what Is NeIy
generally construed as German threa'
,rainst neutral shipping Is under con-
sideration ia we'll known. Also IL Is
yerv generally believed that the pro
test will anticipate the date SCI ~
Germany for the inauguration OF heI
general underseas campaign against VIC
maritime commerce OF the Aines, loI'
as IL WAS pointed out IN Inc lHDune
to-day. the force Of the American pIu
test will be greatly impaired II Wy
United States government should "alI
until after a specific act OF desti u'''0''
against an American ship.
The text Of the German procIsnIs
$50, % communicated 20 the State
DEPARTMENT by Ambassador Gerard TO-
dav. set at rest one misapprehensl0n'
Instead of decreeinG strip OF the
North Sea thirty miles wide OF tne
cast Of the Netherlands 20 be wltniH
nc war zone. this strip Is speclhcal!
,tated n be free from the operations
- hostile craft. This error IN the
,ransnission of the press reports OF
tho proclamation had gravely DISTURBED
the diplomatic representatives OF 'hS
Netherlands in the United States ana
Rad also complicated in measure the
rroblem for all the repainlng neutrN
r,sr;t;na movers. Chevalier van Rap
rerd the Netherlands Minister. was
sgain TODAY a caller at the state De
nsrtment, where for 81 conslderaOIe
,ime he was closeted with counsellor
Robert Lansing, the acting Secretary
Of State.
Dutch Minister Relieved.
A. the close Of this conference Min
ss,er Rappard EXPRESSED satisfaction
tbat the German proclamation had not
iuficted the hardship on hls natoh
which the earlier and incorrect trans
scrint had indicated. At the same time
ne poiDtcd out that the menace 10 com
,erce in the high seas surrounding
Great Britain was Of grave importance
20 the Dutch kingdom. He expressed
tear that the hardships already SUI
fered by his countrymen might De
greatly multiplied by the added bur-
Gems Of higher costs for foodstuhs and
other necessaries of life and the cur
tailment Of the earning power or the
vast number Of Dutch citizens engaged
r. maritime pursuits.
Following the receipt OF the text OF
the German proclamation, Counsellor
Lansing held n conference with the
President. Mr. Lansing refused 10
comment upon the intentions OF inns
government. The question whether the
German proclamation was III any de-
gree comparable 10 the warning uttered
by Great Britain several months ago
that neutral shipping in the North Sea
was in danger from floating mines put
into the water by the enemy, and That
as part of the British defence plan,
similar mining of the seas might be
come necessary on the part OF the Brit-
ISL elected no comment.
At the time Of the British warning
concerning the North Sea mines the
United States made representations 10
the British government regarding
American shipping. As yet nothing
has transpired 20 indicate what Great
Britain did with the representations,
but as until recently, the question OF
the safety of neutral shipping In the
waters referred 20 had not been raised,
the question had not been pursued by
the United States.
II was promised. however, on behalf
of Great Britain that pilots acquainted
with the mine areas would steer neu-
trail ships TO and from the ports OF
Great Britain wherever dangers eX-
listed. Germany from the beginning
Of the war has offered similar ad-
vantages both on the North Sea coast
and in the Baltic. For this reason also
the German proclamation marks new
international attitude on the part OF
the Berlin government
Differences Are Outlined.
II was said to-day on competent for
eign authority that Germany and
Austria would not receive with equa-
nimity any protest from the United
States regarding the war zone procia-
nation. II was recalled that the
United States had not protested against
the British warning, The differences
are here outlined:
Great Britain's utterances with re-
gard 10 the North Sea mines was IN
no sense Of the word threat. II
simply indicated TO the neutral ma.
tiops Of the world that a region OF
danger existed. and that that danger
might be doubled through British de-
fensive actions. There was no sug-
gestion of attack on neutral Shipping
or indeed upon the shipping oil Del
ligerents. -, A.,
III
warning of danger from floating mines
was on all tours with the hypotheteal
proposition of a new reef or volcanic
island which might have developed over
night and against which the Hydro
graphic Office might issue a warning
The German proclamation threatens
destruction 70 any merchant ship OF q
belligerent and is considered here as
FAR from resSsuring even to the SNIP
ping Of neutrals
The German Embassy, however, gave
out It's own statement and interpre'
tation Of the recent proclamation. 1t
was as follows:
"The German Ambassador has not
received instructions regarding the
decision of the German Admiralty, but
according 20 the text Of the decision,
the following seems clear:
"There is nothing new in the com
municstion made on February by the
German Admiralty with respect 20 the
attitude Of the German imperial navy
toward ships Of the enemy or toward
neutral commerce. II Is absurd TO de-
scribe this as the proclamation of
naner blockade of the British Isles.
The communication is simply state
rent Of what has been, since the be-
Ginning OF the war. the attitude OF the
navies Of all the belligerent powers
toward ships of the enemy.
"A few months 70 the English Al