New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-17


Washington. Feb. l6.-With Germany
determined 10 carry out lts Na5 .o ,.''
INFLAMMATION and with Great Britain
.ecusliv determines 20 see that no ships
carving foodstufs reach the German
Tmnire' the State Department Is await
ING with anxiety the Developments tha'
nsv arise after Thursday. when the
German war zone proclamation ..
into effect. That the situation IS ue4'
jcate one so far as this country Is CON
cerned is admitted. ,....
ON the one hand, Germany relaxing
not a point OF her contention 'ha' the
enforcement Of the war zone proeIa-
nation will be carried out TO the ie''e''
stands insiStent on concessions III ON
Croa, Rritain. Great Britain, refusing
any utferauce whatsoever on the SUP
iect gives out no direct information
hui only the inference ;hat htr re-
straints on German commerce Will nov
he modified. The United Sia'es' mean
while. serving only "a the venice 'o'
me communication o. Germany S"N
cestions 20 Great Britain, is ;aNlhE ~"
stems on her own account 10 uh'@"s &
the general muddie further IMAM 10
stand stsnchly by the pos ;Ion Sne mas a..
assumed toward Germanys deere J."
the recent uolt 10 ~ a., g
eminent conveyed by Ambassador Ger
ard a. Berlin. a.,
- s-.rico1 note is said 20 he ready
"a "a hourly expected at tie state
Derartrncnt Il will he sent through
Anbassador Won Bernstorf, but ITS
,o,or is said 10 have been clearly fore
cast IN the preliminary notes con
viewed 10 the department on -aluTuAy
end again on Monday.
German Suggestion Not Considered.
The suggestion advanced by Ger
many that iu the distribution OF snip
borne foodstufs she viii extend me
privilege Of closest Inspection OF the
handling OF the products 10 American
consular officers has a. yet received
no consideration from the state De-
rartment This point was made qui'e
clear to-day by Counsellor Kober'
Lansing. who pointed ont that such
supervision could only be undertaken
by this government by and with the
consent of the belligerent powers now
at war with Germany.
He explained that when the Amerl-
can consuls assumed the direction and
fupervisiou Of the contributions OF
foodstuffs 20 the Beigians, several
months ago, similar consents had first
teen obtained from the belhgerent ma
lions. This was not a wholly analo-
eous case. for in the case Of the Bel
gian distribution the food distributed
was o charitable donation. There the
interest Of the United States was OF q
different character from that which
would exist if. on behalf of American
producers who were making money
profit out Of the sale Of their goods TO
Germany, the United States should
seek 70 aid in obtaining consent for
supervision Of such an enterprise.
That the situation is regarded as
exceedingly critical is clearly IN evil
denee al the State Department. The
SECRETARY Of State to-day referred
callers 10 the counsellor for all the
details OF the foOdstuds tang,e, the
case OF the Wilhclmina, the inter
change OF notes with Germany and
kindred subjects. lie gave evidence
that the international complication
was getting out Of his grasp, and that
in the growing emergency resort had
had 20 be made TO trained and c.
perienced international practitioners,
rather than rcposed in po!luCa! hands.
The United States has made no rep
vaccinations 70 Great Britain IN the
matter Of the disposition Of the cargo
Of the Wllhelmina. This was indicated
to-day by Counsellor Lansing, who, in
explaining the communication forward
ed 10 Ambassador Page for transmits
sion 20 his maJesty's government last
night, said that the only documents
transmitted were the brief furnished
by the solicitors for the Wilhelmina's
cargo owners and the note handed to
the State Department by Ambassador
Won Bernstorfi Saturday.
The United States passed these doc
uments on to Great Britain for her con-
sideration on their merits without max
ing any effort TO direct or suggest the
Interpretation which Great Britain
might put upon them.
Brief Intended for Cargo.
The brief Of the Wilhelmina's solici-
tors Indicated what disposition was
understood by the cargo owners TO be
intended for the cargo. The German