The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-20
MEMBERS OF THE CABINET RE.
GARD THE SITUATION AS
SERIOUS.
OFFICIALS NON COMMITAL
A Feeling of Apprehension Exsts
That a Critical Point Might Be Pre-
cipitated Should a Vessel Of the
United States Be Sunk.

Washington, Feb 10 - President
Wilson and mis- cabinet discussed at
length today the dangers to American
vessels and commerce growing ont Of
the reiterated determination of the
German government to wage a war
fare OF submarines and mines on
enemy vessels, disclaiming all respon-
sibility for what might happen TO
neutral vessels ventarng into the
new sea zones of war.
Canvass of cabinet officers later
disclosed that the administration re-
garded the developments of the las
few days as of grave importance
Members Of the cabinet declined to
predict what would be the course Of
the United States. Some pointed ont
that in every serious situation IN in
ternational affairs such discretia
was vested in the president and that
his actin would necessarily be guided
by the circumstances of each case if
any attacks on American vessels oc.
Cured
Officially the United States govern
ment had not received from Ambas-
sador Gerard up to late tonight tn
text Of the German reply to the
American note, and until it is in hand
no. decision viii be announced as %
the administration policy
In the informal discussion of the
reply as published in the press, m M
bers of the cabinet indicated that
they were impressed by different as
poets OF the cases Some took tn
view that while the situation was Sc
rious, there was an indication in the
German note of willingness to dis
cuss the subject further, which
might perhaps postpone tha active
enforcement of the proclamation sur
ficiently long TO permit an under
standing to 0e reached about the
safety of neutral vessels and their
identification on the high seas The
delay in receiving the note from Am
hassador Gerard was reearded as Of
advantage in that II nad given oppor-
tunit yfor deliberation here and in
Berlin
The fact that Germany had empha-
sized in the reply the orders to her
navy to use discretion and care when
approaching ships flying neutral
flags was viewed as indicating that
the maximum of vigilance probably
would be exercised by the command
ers of submarines to distinguish be-
tween enemy and neutral vessels.
On the other hand, however, tao
portion of the note in which Ger
many disclaims all responsibility for
what might happen to neutral ships
either by submarine torpedoes or
mines, produces a feeling of appr2
hension among some high officials
that a critical point might be precipi
tated in the relations between the
United States and Germany.
These officials adverted to tha
fact that there now would be less
cause for anxiety if Germany had
negotiated as did Great Britain
France and Russia, treaties with the
United States agreeing to submit to
a commission of investigation any
duxsculties that may arise between
them.
z The position of the United States
in its communication to Germany was
amplified to some extent today by adj
ministration officials who insisted
that the use of submarines, which
Germany claimed made it unsafe At
times 10 approach a merchantmen for
fear of retailitary fire, was not an
excuse in their opinion for summary
attack on a ship flying a neutral flag
without verifying its character.
The rules of international law, they
said, clearly required that the rignt
of visit and search be exercised in
dealing with all merchant craft and
this similarly imposed an obligation
on belligerents to use only such YES.
sells for this purpose as could effec-
lively determine the valid or spurious
character of a neutral ensign.
AS for the possible destruction Of
vessels by mines strewn indiscrimi-
nately in the open seas, without af-
fording channels or pilots for them,
officials were inclined 10 admit the
helplessness of neutral vessels ven
turing in the sea zones of war No
Instructions or warnings, however.