New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-24
Proposes Plan for Settle
ment of Food and Sub
marine Questions.
SIMILAR NOTE
SENT TO LONDON
Scheme Kept SO Secret That
Washington Diplomats Do
Not Know Details.

Berlin, FeO. - iva LOnuOUJ' -Ja'hNs
". Gerard, American Ambassador, pre-
scented 10 the Foreign Office last even
ing the American note which embodies
the United States PROPOSALS for the
settlement of the situation arising
from the British embargo on foodstufs
into Germany and the German warfare
against British mercantile shipping.
II is understood that proposals were
submitted simultaneously in London,
No statement regarding the nature
of these proposals or The German at
titude on them has been obtained here,
but IL is believed there is at least
prospect Of their acceptance In Ger
many.
Washington. Feb. Proposals
have been made informally by the
United States government 70 both
Great Britain and Germany suggest
ing a basis for an understanding on
the subjects of foodstuffs for the civil
/ ian population OF belligerents and sub
marine warfare against merchant
ships. These proposals have been
guarded with the utmost secrecy, and
! officials are reluctant to discuss them
/ because of the delicacy Of the negotla-
| tons.
Simultaneously with the revelation
tonight that a new move had been
made by the Washington government
came dispatches telling of the blowing
I'D of a second American vessel, the
steamship Carib, near the German coast
an. incident which increased the
anxiety of officials for an early under
standing with the belligerents on pend
| ing questions.
The wreck of the first vessel, the
Evelyn, was viewed by President Will
son as q tragic accident due to the
possible failure of the captain to heed
| the German Admiralty's instructions
respecting the location Of its mine
/ fields. Officials were inclined tonight
! 10 think the Carib disaster was of a
similar nature, though they had no
| official advices.
It is known that the proposals made
| to the belligerents are of far-reaching
| Importance. The communications are
| in no sense replies to the notes OF
Germany and Great Britain, though
| they relate to the same subjects. They
constitute what are described in diplo-
macy as "informal inquiries" which
frequently, if acceptable, become for
NAL.
| None OF the ambassadors and min
| listers here was aware, IL was said, OF
! the contents of the notes. The belief
most commonly held was that some
| form of supervision over the distribu-
tion of foodstuffs to the civilian popu-
! lation of Germany. either by American
| consular agents or American organiza-
! tions, had been proposed. 1t was re-
called that such proposal was made
! by Germany but could not be put into
/ ha Of 10
| belligerents.
! Germany has offered to abandon her
! submarine warfare If assured that
! ships laden with foodstuffs for Ger
many will not be interrupted by Great
| Britain.
! President Wilson discussed with his
] Cabinet to-day the general situation
produced by the declaration of a sub
marine war on merchant vessels, and
/ it was said later that the replies from
England and Germany to the informal
representations would have consid-
/ cradle bearing on the final course Of
/ the American government. Earlier in
/ the day the President indicated to
| callers that he had not decided whether
| the notes received from Germany and
| Great Britain on the sea zones and
| the use of neutral flags required re-
I lOlnQeTS, as IL was HOl YET dppdleHl
/ whether there was any necessity to re-
state the position of the United States,
so emphatically expressed in the cor
respondence with both belligerents.
The general impression was that the
United States government had reiter-
ated informally TO the belligerents the
seriousness with which it viewed the
situation, especially the possible effect
on American commerce as result OF
the retaliatory measures of England
and Germany toward each other. Off
Gals spoke guardedly but with no con-
cealment of their apprehension over
the situation which might develop il
American lives were lost as a result
of a submarine attack. To some extent
this tension has been revealed In the
accidents which American ships have
met in the mine fields, though the diff
fculty Of fixing responsibility for such
mishaps has prevented the Washington
government from taking a decisive
stand in the matter.
The Carib was the second ship in
sured by the government war risk bu-
reau, S235,850 on her cargo and S22,-
253 on her hull. With a loss on the
Evelyn, the bureau probably will have
to pay a total of S659000, which about
equals the sum collected to date in
premiums. Undoubtedly both cases
will be the subject of civil suits for
damages by the bureau.