Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-07
Wilson Does Not Believe
Neutral Ships VIII
Be Menacedo
BRITISH USE FLAGS
NEUTRALS, CHARGED
American Foreign Trade
VIII Be Destroyed If
Order Stands

HXJASHINGTON, Feb. Ss-Pres'e
w dent Wilson and his Gabinet to-
dav discussed the possible effects on
neutral shipping of the German proc"
lamation declaring as naval war.zones
the water areas surrounding Grea'
Britain and ireland and bordering th'
north and west coasts of France ana
a portion of the Netherlands
Inasmuch as the text of the German
admiralty's proclamation had not
arrived, no conclusions We're reached
and no consensus of opinion developer
as to what diplomatic steps should oe
taken by the United States govern
ment Should the communicating laI
to arrive by tomorrow Acting Se'ie-
tary Lansing Will direct alhoaSsa"oi
Gerard at Berlin 70 make IN: GUS
tonary inquiry at the German foreign
office as TO the authenticity Of a pup"
lshed report
If the German proclamation when
officially transmitted corresponds III
phraseology 10 the report when caH1t
by wireless Yesterday. il was suggested
In executive quarters that lhe 'ouiSc
of the American government propapIS
would be to inquire. ilrsl, OF 'He 'eI
man government what measures "l
protection or convoy can be eXpecteu
by American merchant ships passing
through the designated war zones 70
neutral ports and second, of the
British government as 10 whether or
not 1, has issued the alleged secfev
order permitting the use of Heu'ra'
flags by her merchantmen.
Charge Misuse Neutral Flags
denial by Great Britain Of the
existence of the order would be lol-
lowed. it is understood. by an inquiry
of the German authorities as TO PROOF
or their charge. The suggestion that
neutral flags were being mlsused
caused no little concern among hlgh
officials, who said they had heard no
reports of II before
II was stated on high authority that
the United States government prom
ably would not go further than to seek
to establish what measures the GER
man navy will take to aid American
ships in passing safely through the
war zones and what efforts Will be
made to verify the neutral character
of vessels flying the American flag.
The right of a belligerent to deslg-
nate a water area as war zone Wllhln
which it Is dangerous for neutral craft
to venture is a lately recognized prin-
Ciple of international law though the
extent OF the zone, the degree Of
menace to neutral vessels and the
right to interrupt lawful commerce in
the only existing water routes between
neutral countries have never been de-
fined.
Only Search Neutral Ships.
High officials here did not believe,
t,pTmQn ,llIIgIS nave lnll-
mated, that the German go|ernment
intends to deliberately destroy neutral
vessels in the war zone. Rules oI IN
ternational law, il was pointed OUT.
call for careful search of a neutral
vessel TO determine how much OF us
cargo is contraband and even then the
shin can be destroyed only in rare
emergencies and on the confident as
sumption that it would have been CON
demned as a prize.
while in many quarters the action
OF Germany was referred to as a
"bIockade." technically the designa-
tion Of war zones is an entirely dltftT-
emf matter, Neutral vessels under
blockade are absolutely forblddeh
from entering the blockaded areas. but
under Germany's proclamation there
IS no penalty or obstacle dlrecIlN
placed against the passage OF neu-
ira ship through q war zone atter the
warning against the dangers that exist
there In effect a neutral vessel en-
ters the dangerous area at its own
risk, a situation somewhat analogous
to the mine strewn fields of the North
sea. though destruction by a subma-
riue whose nationality could be asCef-
tanned would differ in legal conse-
ouences from the explosion Of a con-
tact mine, responsibility for the laying
of which might never be fixed
The German admirality's notice, II
was contended at the German embassy,
is the natural result of the British atu-
tude towards foodstuffs intended for
Germany. It was made plain that the
intention of the order, as understood
here. is to prevent the entrance of FOOD
into England While none of the neu-
tral embassies and legations had IN
structions from their home govern
ments today, It was suggested that II
was unlikely that change from the
policy Of protesting i'm specific cases
only would be made The possibility
of Joint protest by neutrals was dis
cussed informally In diplomatic quar-
ters hut without official sanction.
II was stated at the legation Of the
Netherlands that a conference would
be- held tomorrow between the min
ister. Chevalier Won Rappard. and Off
ciaIs Of the state department, In order
10 ascertain the probable nction of this
government
Officials at the legation character
ized the situation as extremely serious
for all neutrals whose ships ordinarily
pass through the danger zone and es-
uccially for Holland. whose entire
coast line is affected.
Tanning Beats Fleming.
rARTI ESVIILE Feb. 5.-A crowd