The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-16
GERMAN PROPOSITION SUBMITTED
TO ENGLAND BY UNITED STATES
WILL NOT ATTACK MERCHANT
SHIPS " ENGLAND WILL LIFT
RESTRICTIONS ON FOOD
STuFFS -
Otherwise Proclamation Will Co In
70 Eject and Mines Will be
Strc~n In British Waters.

NAShlNGTON. FEB. l5.-Mfth
only three days remaining before the
German admiralty proposes 10 ca1y
into effect its proclamation OF begin.
ming a submarine campaign on enc
my merchant ships Developments
in the diplomatic situation NOV
ed rapidly today through Che
medium Of the United States
government custodian OF the dip
lomatic interests OF the various be-
liSerents.
Count Won Bernstein. the German
ambassador. delivered z note to the
United States which was promptly
transmitted TO Great Britain in which
Germany offered to recede from her
plan OF destroying enemy merchant
ships IL restrictions placed by the
allies on shipments of conditional
contraband and foodstuifs destined
10 the civilian population Of Germany
were removed. Otherwise. the note
announced. Germany proposes to put
into effect the original proclamation
adding also the strewing OF mines N
waters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland. Alleged arming OF British
mel chant vessels Is given by the Ger.
man government as ground for az.
lacking enemy merchant ships without
search or previous visit. regarding
merchant craft hereafter as in the
category OF warships. The ambas-
sador's communication was sent from
Berlin before the recent American
note was delivered by Ambassador
Gerard. and is supplemental to the
German foreign office memorandum
on the subject OF the new war zones.
British Note Arrives.
Al the same time that the German
ambassador conferred with Secretary
Bryan and Counsellor Lansing. the
complete text of the British reply to
the American note OF protest on neu-
tral shipping dated December 26. was
received. II was laid before Presi-
dent Wilson. Besides giving Stats.
tics on neutral commerce and enter
ing general denial that there had
been any unwarranted interference
with legitimate shipments. the new
note contains a statement from Great
Britain that the recent government
decree, taking over the -four and
grain supply in Germany, required
added precautions on the part of the
allies that the conditional contraband
might be permitted to reach the
armed forces of the enemy. The doc
ument constituted a further state
ment OF the British government on
the legal questions involved.
The full text will not be given out
untH after an agreement for publica-
ton is reached with the British
foreign Office.
Another development which bears
directly on the submarine warfare
threatened by Germany was the dis.
patching OF a telegram BY the state
department to-day TO Ambassador
Page. instructing him TO submit 10
the British foreign office evidence
given here by the owners of the
American steamer wilhelmina 10
prove that her cargo consists of food.
stuffs destined for non-combatants
and not subject to seizure. The sug
gestion is made that unless Great
Britain has sufficient grounds. not vet
advanced for doing otherwise. the
ship be permitted at once TO proceed
with her cargo TO her destination.
From the German point OF view. the
Wilhelmina constitutes a test case on
which the entire question of feeding
Germany.
Serious Situation.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the British
ambassador. discussed the situation
with the state department officials
On all sides, IL Is admitted here that
the developments OF the last few DAYS
present most serious situation for
American commerce. Administration
officials think that even though assur.
ances are given eventually by Ger.
many that neutral ships will not be
attacked. the effect of the war zone
proclamation VIII be to intimidate
American shippers and reduce Amer.
lean exports.
That the next step by the United
states may be o pronounced state.
ment TO Great Britain on the subject
or conditional contraband was indf.
Gated at the stated department today.
The American government in its first
note argued strongly for unrestricted
shipment OF conditional contraband
when destined to non-com batants. The
British preliminary reply did not on.
pose this view. but said an uncondi.
tional acceptance could not be given
on account OF Germanys alleged in.
! humane practices
IL was believed here today that the
American government might seek an
understanding on the question of food.
7 afmffe WfFh 10Th