The Raymer enterprise., 1917-02-15
AS PROTECTION AGAINST suBMA.
RINES, U. s. MAY ARM ALL
MERCHANT SHIPS.
.DETAIN z AMERICANS
WILL RELEASE YARROWDALE's
CREW WHEN TEuToNs ARE RE-
LEASED, SAYS zlMMERMANN.

Washington.-The State Department
Monday made public memorandum
presented by DR.. Paul Ritter, the
Swiss minister acting for Germany.
proposing discussion with the Unit.
ed States over the new submarine
campaign. Germany proposes to nego-
tiate for the safety Of American ship
ping, provided the commercial block
ade" Of England is not interfered
with. The American government has
replied that 1t cannot enter negotia-
tions unless Germany restores the Sus-
sex pledges and withdraws proclama-
tion of unrestricted submarine war.
fare.
Washington. - Administration Off
cials began Monday to share the i'm.
patience OF shipping men over forced
detention OF American vessels in home
ports because of Germany's U-boat
war. This feeling appeared likely to
hasten the solution of the question OF
armament for merchantmen. The solu-
tion will probably be direct or indirect
issuance by the Navy DEPARTMENT Of
guns to merchant ships desiring them.
London-The American Commission
for relief in Belgium has been official
ly notified by the German authorities
that the Americans will withdraw
from participation in. the relief work
In Belgium and northern France. This
step was taken in reply to an order
from the German authorities that
Americans must withdraw from the
provinces Of Belgium and northern
France, leaving only few of their
representatives. headed by Brand
Whitlock, American minister to Bel
GUM, In Brussels.
Berlin.-Foreign Secretary thinner
mann Monday informed the Associ-
ated Press that he had requested the
Swiss government to make inquiry In
Washington regarding the status Of
the crews of interned German ships In
American ports.
Pending an answer the seventy-two
Americans taken by the German raid
er and brought in by the Yarrowdale,
whose release had been agreed to, are
being held in Germany, the foreign
secretary stated.
During the last week recurring ru-
mors have reached Berlin by way Of
London, in which 1t was announced
that the United States government
had sequestered the German ships and
lnterned their crews.
"In regard to the Yarrowdale pris-
oners," the foreign secretary stated,
these men had been taken off armed
merchantmen and their status had
been established. They will be liber-
ated just as soon as we learn the fate
OF the German crews In American
ports"
The release of the Yarrowdale pris-
oners was agreed to with Ambassador
Gerard on the eve Of the break In re-
lations. but the possibility Of the Ger.
man crews being interned in the Unit.
ed States prompted the admiralty to
rescind the orders liberating the
Americans held with the rest Of the
Yarrowdale prisoners.
II is pointed out here that this cpl
sode is further illustration of the
menace growing out OF the lack of ia
cillties of free intercommunication
by both countries.
Herr Zimmerman reaffirmed his
previous statement that the Ameri-
cans now in Germany will be permit
ted to move about unmoested and be
perfectly free 10 leave the country
whenever they desire, even II the
break threatens to reach the ultimate
stage