The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-02-26
FOR BASIS OF UNDERSTAND
ING ON SUBJECT FOOD.
STUFFS FOR WAR
VICTIMS
UTMOST SECRECY
AS TO PROPOSALS
No Concealment Of Apprehension
Over Situation Should Ameri-
can Lives Be Lost in
Submarine War.

WASHINGTON. Feb. Proposals
have been made informally by the
United State; to both Great britain
and Germany, suggesting basis for
an understanding ON the subjects of
foodstuHs for the civilian population
Uf bclligerents AMI submarine war
fare against merchant ships.
These proposals have been guarded
with the utmost secrecy and officials
have not revealed their nature because
Of tie deIicacy Of the negotiations.
C0incidcnt with the revelation to-
night that Il new move had been mnde
by the Washington government. dis
patches were received telling Of tbs
blowing up OF second American YES
sci, the steamship Carib, near the
German coast.
The wreck OF the first vessel. the
Evelyn. WAS viewed by President VII
son as Il tragic accident due to pos
sibic failure Of the captain to heed
the German admlraltg's Instructors 5
respecting tho location OF mine fields.
Officials tonight believed the Carib
disaster was Of similur nature, though
they had no official advices.
Proposals made to the belligcrcntS.
II IL known, nrc or farrcnciling i'm
portance. They were embodied In a
confidential memorandum which both
Ambassadors Page and Gerard were
instructed to take up informally with
the respective foreign Offices at Lon
don aud Berlin. The new communi-
cations are not replIcs- to the notes
of Germany and Great Britain though
they relate to the same subject. They
constitute what Is described in liplo-
macy as informal inquiries" anl,
frequently. II acceptable, became for
mai.
Speculation as to what the suggcs-
ttons wero was widespread in liploma-
tic quarters. II was said. The belief
most commonly held,e was that til
United States had proposed some form
OF supervision over the distribution
OF foodstuffs to the civilian pOpula-
tion Of Germany, either by American
consul agents or American organiza-
tions.
Germany has offered TO abandon her
submarine warfare II assured that
ships laden with foodstuirs for Ger
many will not be interrupted by
Great britain.
President Wilson discussed with
his cubinet today the general -aitua-
submarine war on merchant vessels
and II was said later the replies from
England and Germany to the inform
III representations would have consid-
cradle bearing on the final course Of
tile American government
Earlier in the day the President In
dicated that he had not decided whctl-
er the notes received from Germany
and Great Britain on the sen zones
and the usc OF neutral flags rcQuir-
ed rc1oindcrs
Officials tonight spoke guardcdly,
but with no conceaiment OF their
apprehensi0ns over the situation
which might develop II American lives
were lost as a result of submarine
attack. a
Tho Carib WINS the second ship. in
sured by the government war risk
insurance bureau. There was $2.I5,-
600 on er';cargo and S22.253 on her
hull. With a loss on the Evelyn. the
bureau probably viii, have to pay n
total Of $650.O00 which about equals
the sum collecte to datc In premiums.
Undoubtedly both cases will be the
subject OF civil suits for damages by
the bureau. "
H