New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-17
WASHINGTON REGARDS
SITUATION AS CRITICAL

note urged the release Of the Wilhel-
nina as necessary before modification
Of the war zone decree could be consid-
cred The State Department officials
felt that the two statements taken IN
combination were sufficient argument
f. the needs Of the situation.
Great Britain's position on the 1000
supply question is known 10 be uncom-
promising The utterance Of Winston
Spencer Churchill in the House Of Com
mons last night, in which he announced
that Great Britain is considering even
more stringent measures than those
now in force, with view TO starving
Germany into subsection. has convinced
many here that Great Britain is making
IN her mind 10 admit Of no modifica-
tior Of her hostile intentions toward
Gcrmany's food supply, be the cost
what 70 may. Il IS pointed out thai
the German submarine activity a.
against British commerce have meas
urab'c limit. They may drive of neu-
trial shipping altogether and they may
succeed i'm destroying a considerable
fraction of British cargo ships, but
that they can isolate Great Britain IS
not expected. and niether is II felt that
they can create a situation that would
leave Great Britain foodless.
Hope to Hasten End Of War.
On the other hand, the British feel
that. cost what il may, their bottlng
up Of Germany cannot but exceed IN
completeness anything which the Ger
mans by mines and subarines can ac-
complish. and that the greater measure
Of suffering must, in the end, fall upon
Germany This IS the Inhuman way Of
looking at the problem, according 10
British diplomats, but, at the same
time it is a logical answer to the prob
lem, and If the war can be more quick
~ ended and j. favor of Great Britain
through the application Of this method
Of lighting, the more important end
the consummation Of a peace favorable
10 the Allies-wiil have been effected.
The Germans are still insistent that
The British underestimate their power
Of restricting and destroying British
commerce. They point out that the
starvation system Of fighting, although
cflicac.ous. cannot be brought about by
England, even with her mastery OF the
seas. The war zone decree. they claim,
is a retaliatory measure, and its det-
rimpnt to Great Britain will be equal
TO the hardship worked on Germany by
: cutting OF her food supply. These two
views of the two interested parties 10
the conflict. both Of them Of acknowl-
edged tcnablity, are working against
a solution of the trouble in a fashion
satisfactory to the United States.
One thing with regard to the specific
instance Of the cargo Of the Wilhel-
nina came TO light to-day as TO the
attitude Of the United States govern
ment on the rights Of the cargo own
ers. and that is, the brief OF the solicit
tors showed 10 the satisfaction Of the
State Department that the cargo was
rot destined for the use either Of the
military or the laval establishment Of
Germany and also that it was put
aboard and the vessel started for her
! European destination before the Brit
ish government issued its official no
tice that food supplies for Germany
would be regarded as contrabanc.
The British government has made its
position clear on the principles under
which conditional contraband will not
be interefered with when destined to
civilians in an enemy country, while
the German government has stated that
If il can get food supply for its CT
william population IT will recede from
it's submarine campaign. These decla-
rations contain no concurrence of views,
but officials say there is always the
possibility that through the good Offices
Of an intermediary a common ground
for an understanding may be reached.
in this connection the British sup
Elementary note replying to the Amer
lean note of protest about cOntraband
and shipping generally, dated Deem
Der &c, was laid before President Will
son to-day. II contains a long argu-
ment on the subject of American ship
ping and concludes with some observa-
/ tions on the subject of conditional con
/ traband and the decree taking over the
supply of wheat and -four in Germany
/ by the government.
Madrid. via Paris), Feb l6.-The
[ Spanish government has adopted an at
! titude of extreme reserve regarding its
position on Germany's war zone policy.
/ IL is understood that the government
will join the United States if the latter
proposes joint measures on the part Of
all neutrals.
E TRUSTED