Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-02
President Says Great Bri-
tain Has No Right to
Halt Supplies.
DEMAND ON ENGLAND
. ~ ii4itSEE /! p hla1NeSS ms
sd States Will Not Change Atti.
.ssude and viii Insist on Right e
Trade With Germany-situatien Se
Critical President May BE Unable to
Go on Trip-cotten Mills ef South
Would Be Affected by Blockade.

Washington. March 2-The Unite0
States will send note to Great Brit
ain and France in answer to the one
received yesterday. inquiring whae
means will be taken In holding up sup
plies being carried to and from Ger.
many.
President Wilson told callers today
that the British French note outlined
IN very general terms a policy. but did
not define the means Of carrying II into
effect.
President Wilson refused to discuss
the subject in detail but said that no
nation has the right to change the
rules OF warfare because the methods
OF war havec hanged. He Indicated that
the United States will not change its
previously announced position but will
continue to make efforts to have the
belllgerents respect shipments OF goods
non -contraband In character.
The president said 1t was not made
clear whether Great Britain and
France would establish q blockade OF
Germany, but that would be the effect
of the order. He indicated that even
II real blockade was effected, no ef-
feet on the neutrality OF the United
States would be felt by trips Of Ameris
can ships to Germany.
Cotton Mills Affected.
The president said the question waa
under serious consideration. He reiter..
ated he was still uncertain whether he
would be able tn follow out his plan
to go to San Francisco, 1nd this Was
taken as an indication that the Euro.
pean situation was OF such importancos
as to keep the president in WashinGs
ton.
Senator Simmons said today that tha
British French action would a6oae
southern cotton growers, but woulA
have more serious effect on cotton
mills. That. he said. was due 10 tie
fact that most OF the mills used 0ers
man dyes and the supply In this couns
try Is very small.
Owners Must Assume Rielss.
The president made 1t clear. how<,
ever that for American ships to sail
for Germany would involve no viola.}
ton of neutrality but merely the usual
risk of the owners Of vessel and cargo
In legal proceedings.
The minister of the Netherlands In.
quired what reply the United Stateso
intended to make. He desired to send
ion was expressed that the Netherlands
desired TO make reply similar to that
of the United States
Wilson Back Of Passport Probe.
President Wilson revealed today that
he had directed the present New York
grand jury investigation into the al-
legged passports frauds. 1t was indi-
Gated. however, that unless indictments
were returned. the United States could
not take official action against diplo-
mats and attaches of foreign em-
bassies.
Captain Boy-Ed. naval attacho OF
the German embassy, has been promi-
nent In one case. While intcrna-
tional law holds an attachc immune
from arrest it does not preclude an in
dictment. In such an event the affair
becomes a question of the acceptable
tty of any Official involved.
The president said today he had no
official announcement that Count
Bernstein was to leave his post here.