The Washington times., 1915-07-28
United States Silent While Great
Britain and Germany Pre-.
pare Replies on Protests.
ENGLISH MOTIVES MYSTERY
Officials Decline to Express
Opinions on Request Of Lon.
don to Await Communication

The International situation simmered
today. this Government finding itself
waiting on both Germany and Great
Britain.
Great Britain's unexpected announce
ment that she would send supple
menttary note on the blockade con-
troversy. and her request that publica-
ton Of the communication received here
Morday be withheld for the present.
caused considerable speculation in Of
ncial and diplomatic quarters.
State Department officials are reticent
concerning the meaning of the request.
II, indeed, they know Great Britain's
motives.
The Ieelanaw incident has lost much
Of its FIRST blush Of Importance. 1t Is
felt the sinking Of the Leelanaw Will
have no appreciable effect upon the re-
lations between the United States and
Germany and tho incident is one which
call merely for the interchange Of dip
lomatic correspondence regarding rep
aration and the legal points involved.
Warned Before Attack.
Statements Of the captain and crew Of
the destroyed vessel bear out reports
that her men were warned before at
tack.
The United States. however, awaits
some indication Of Germany's position
regarding the latest American note on
submarine warfare. Public sentiment in
the kaiser's country is reported hostile
to the American position. but so long as
there are no serious violations Of inter.
national law and the principles enunci-
ated by this Government the German
American situation may be regarded as
one Of comparative quiet and no danger.
The controversy with Great Britain
over the latters blockade of the seas,
which is interfering constantly with
American shipping, took precedence to-
day. The announcement of his mai
esty's government that a supplemental
note on this subject will come within
a few days will have the effect Of halt
ing the preparation Of the note begun
sing. 70
Declined Prize Courts.
1t is assumed Great Britain desires to
reply more specifically at this time to
the representations Of this Government
In it's communication Of July II. This
communication declined recognition OF
British prize courts In the blockade con-
troversy. and insisted that the rights OF
neutral shippers should be decided un.
der the dictates of International law
rather than by such legislation as the
British order in council and the find
ings Of prize courts.
If concessions were offered by the
British. 1t was said. they could be
passed along to Germany, with re-
quest for corresponding submarine
warfare concessions. and the whole
controversy might be Strengthened
out. That concessions would be Of
fered. however. was only Guesswork.
Officials merely hoped SO.
Big Losses Involved.
Ultimate arbitration of British seiz-
urcs OF American ships and cargoes,
which 1t was hinted the London for
eign office might propose, would be
unsatisfactory. it was stated, because
British interference with American
trade Is involving losses for which
damages months or years hence can
not compensate the losers; no ar
rangement can be satisfactory but to
have this interference stopped now.
Americas request f., German ex-
planation of the reported Intellectual
submarine attack on the liner Ordu-
ma, with American passengers on
board, was before the Berlin foreign
office An early response is expect
ed. Reports that submarines chased
Ae liner Carpathia and. earlier, the
Baltic, were considered too intangible
to lead to any exchange of messages
between Washington and Berlin