"THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY READS IT."
THE UNION COUNTY PAPER EVERYBODY N?DS IT."
ee Monroe Jo
PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
VOL. 23. No. 3.
MONROE, N.O, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13,1917.
$1.50 PER YEAR CASH.
FTR M A f
.U. Xi. J. N J.
GermanyADxious to Avoid
Hostilities Witb America
Steps Taken to Open Discussion to
lYevent War.
XO MODIFICATION OF SUB WAR
Germany Intimates That She V
Safe-guard Sli'n.
DISCISSION IS NOT IOSSIBLE
Altitude of V. S. Stands Unless There
Is a Modification.
Washington. Feb. 10. Germany
has taken steps to open a discussion
with the United states ot mear c
preventing war between the tw
countries.
In seeking an exchange of views
on the subject. However, it is not
understood that tne uernn uovern
infnt has nronosed anv modification
of its ruthless submarine campaign,
and officials here feel that they can
not enter upon such a discussion
while vessels continue 10 oe aesiroy
pri in violation of international law.
The new move Is understood to be
tired icted uDon a willingness on
Germany's part to discuss especially
the safe guarding or American snips
and American lives on me seas, anu
backed by a German reneweu expres
sinn of the desire of the Uei man gov
orniiipnt tn nrevent the diDlomatiC
breach from leading to actual hos
tilities. Just how American interests
are to be safeguarded If the German
w mnn nrorlnmatlon is to Stand,
however, and whether any specific
means of preserving peace between
the two nations is included In the
suggestion has not bee revealed,
itprauso of the delicacy of the sti
uation, all officials refuse to discuss
it in detail or even to Indicate
thrnuirh what channels the comuiuni
cation was addressed to the American
Government.
What may be the ulterior motive
hark of ttio sten ill so is a matter ot
speculation. In some quarters, there
is evident a reeling mat 11 mereiy is
a play for time, designed to postpone
any further action by the United
States until the starvation blockade
against England either has succeeded
nr failed. F.lsowhere. there are sug
gestions that there may be behind
it a sincere desire to mane sacrifices
to preserve peace between the Unit
ed States and Germany, and may
come as a response to the appeals
understood to have been sent abroad
hv nnriflstH In this country.
In any event, there is no evidence
that President Wiuon is contemplat
ing any other course than vigorous
nronaration cf the Nation for the
eventuality which he warned against
in his address to congress u amen
ran rlrhta are violated.
Up to tonight, no official evidence
had been received to show that tne
feared overt act had been committed.
Aside from the new Gennau com
munication interest In official circles
centereil chielly in the course or
Berlin officials in placing obstacles in
the wav of the deuarture of Ambas
sador Gerard. Great resentment has
been aroused here over this incident,
hut officials have indicated that as
soon us the Ambassador is safely out
of Germany they will do aisposea 10
consider the matter closed.
BRITISH PAID DEARLY
ion success attained
Military Critic of Overseas News
Agency S:ij-s Success on Anct'c Was
of Small Consequence.
Berlin, Feb. 12. Via Sayvllle.
The military critic of the Overseas
News Ag?ncy says that the British
attack on the northern bank of the
Ancre yesterday in which the British
"penetrated a small Bector of German
positions on the road from Puisleux
to Beaucourt," was started on a broad
front at 10 o'clock at night after
strong artillery preparations.
"The British success," he adds, "In
no way corresponds to the number of
men employed or the use of war ma
terial. The attack of the British
battalion north of LaBassee canal
wa3 absolutely without success. In
preparation for this attack there
were six hours of artillery firing
which commenced at 11 a. m. and in
creased to drum fire at 4 p. ni.
"Under protection of heavy cloud3
of smoke, several attacking waves ad
vanced upon a German trench on a
narrow salient. The German artil
lery, however- covered this trench
with such a heavy and well-directed
fire that the British were compelled
to vacate it, leaving behind numerous
dead, and were compelled to seek
protection In their own positions. The
German losses were exceedingly
small."
Xo U-Bont Ever Fired at Lifeboat,
Xor Will They.
Berlin. Feb. 12. Via Sayvllle.-
Reports from British sources that the
life boats of the Britlah steamer
Eavestone were fired upon by a Ger
man submarine are mentioned in an
Overseas News agency announcement
today which adds:
"As soon as the submarine reports,
all the details regarding tho question
of the Eavestone will be given out.
Meanwhile It Is reiterated that no
German submarine ever fired at life
boats nor will one do so in future."
A report from American Consul
Frost at Queenstown received In
Washington on February 6 state
that Itichard Wallace, an American
negro, was killed during the shelling
of the Eaverstone's boats by the Ger
man rubmarlne which sank her.
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CONGRESS XOW TUBNS
TO GENERAL BUSINESS
Among Emergency Measures Await
ing Action Are Conspiranry and
Espionage Bills To Report On
the Leak.
Washington. Feb. 11. The diplo
matic breach with Germany having
been endorsed by the Senate. Con
gress is devoting itself to Important
general business, together with emer
gency measures necessitated by the
strained international situation.
Tuesday the house will pass the
naval appropriation bill, together
with amendments urged by Secretary
Daniels providing authority to com
mandeer ship yards and munitions
plants and appropriating $1,000,000
for the purchase of basic patents of
aircraft. The army appropriation bill
carrying approximately $300,000,
000 will be put through next, as
quickly as possible.
Emergency measures awaiting ac
tion in the Senate include espionage
and conspirancy bills recommended
by the attorney general and amend
ments to the shipping laws. Tomor
row the Senate expects to pass the
Porto Rlcan citizenship bill, after
which a fight again will be Instituted
for legislation in the pending post
office appropriation bill increasing
the rate cn newspapers and periodical-?
and providing for one cent drop
letter postage. Revenue legislation
also will be pressed in the Senate
within a few days.
Democratic senators today at their
third revenue caucus finally approv
ed, with amendments, the bill passed
by the house to provide approxima
tely $350,000 additional revenue to
meet the anticipated treasury deficit.
The House provisions to raise $248,
000,000 through auuitional taxes on
Inheritances and "excess profits" and
tor a bond issue of $100,000,000 to
pay for the Danish West Indies.
Alaska railroad and other expenses
were modified only slightly.
Tho "excess profits" tax on corpor
ations and partnerships was limited
by the caucus to expire automatical
ly in four years. Also an amend
ment was Inserted providing that the
present tax of 12 1-2 per cent on
munitions makers' profits shall end
in six, instead of 12 months after
peace is declared.
The caucus rejected an amendment
to add the Webb exporters' co-operative
bill as a "rider" to the revenue
bill, which may prevent passage of
the Webb bill at the present session.
The caucus pledged all Democratic
senators to support the entire
revenue bill as amended, except that
they are left unpledged on Senator
Underwood's provision to reduce the
tax on oleomargarine from 10 to 2
cents a pound. It Is proposed to press
the revenue bill for passage as soon
as the postoffice appropriation bill Is
out of the way.
Other matters being pressed In the
Senate are the railroad labor legisla
tion bill, the bill giving the President
authority to take over tho railroads
In time of war or threatened war,
the flood control, rivers and harbors
and oil land leasing bills.
The House rules committee prob
ably will make a report on Its "leak"
Investigation during the last of the
week. Hearings will be resumed !n
New York Wednesday, and, it Is ex
pected, on Thursday or Friday the
committee will return here to frame
Its report. Present Indications are
that there will be a majority and a
minority report.
Wednesday Congress will meet in
Joint session to count the electoral
vote of the November election for
President and Vice-President of the
United States,
From East (loose Creek.
Correspondence of The Journal.
Unlonville Rt. 2. There is an epi
demic of grippe and colds in this sec
tion.
Miss Maud Crowell. one of the
teachers at Pleasant Hill school, spent
the week-end with friends at Win-
gate.
Mr. I. A. Crowell has moved to the
Geo. W. Williams place, recently pur
chased by Mr. C. J. Braswell.
Mr. W. M. Sell and son, Mr. Hoyle
Sell, are talking of going into the
dairy business.
Mr. Arthur Williams, son of Mr.
J. Cull Williams, returned home last
week from Delark, Ark., where he
has rpent the winter with his uncle,
Mr. J. L. Williams, and other rela
tives.
Mr. Solon Braswell, who Is princi
pal of the York school near Marsh-
ville, spent Saturday and Sunday with
his parents, Esq. and Mrs. C. J. Bras
well. Miss Ila Williams, daughter of Mr.
J. C. Williams, ha3 gone to Charlotte
where she has secured employment in
a sewing establishment.
Mr. J. M. Tarlton, wao lives Just
over the line in New Salem township,
had the misfortune to lose a very val
uable young mule last week.
It Is feared that the recent cold
weather has greatly Injured If not en
tirely ruined the small grain crops In
this section. Cabbage plants which
had been set out during tho winter
were nearly all killed.
War with Germany is all the talk
Just now. Your correspondent has
talked with several people and to a
man they are all opposed to this
country going to war with Germany
or any other foreign power. Let's
keep out of this awful conflict.
We are sorry to learn that Mrs. T.
F. James has been right sick for some
days. O. L. D. Timer.
The Union Drug Company will
have a Bo&ton beauty special with
them all next week. Free facial mas
sages in your home. (Adv.)
NEW INVENTIONS FOB WAR
Nation's Inventive Genius to Reveal
Master Submarine Foe.
New York. Feb. 11. American in
ventive genius will have some tre
mendous surprises In war machinery
for Germany in case of war.
Cable dispatches from London say
Britons are predicting, for instance,
that a master anti-submarine weapon
will be tevealed by Thomas A. Edi
son's "Invention board."
I talked today with Henry A. Wise
wood, an original member of the
United States naval consulting board,
on how war would stimulate Yankee
inventors. Wood is chairman of the
conference committee on National
preparedness, president of the Ameri
can Society of Aeronautical Engi
neers, vice-president of the Aero Club
of America, and member of the So
ciety of Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers.
"With the appointment recently of
the naval consulting board," said
Wood, "a new era has begun In which
the Government for the first time
has invited, rather than repelled, the
co-operation of our creative physi
cists. "Fortunately, in view of the pres
ent circumstances, this copartnership
has been working long enough to
have laid a substantial foundation for
for the vi-! y great surprises I am cer
tain the world will bo given if this
county finds itself la a protracted
war. I have information concerning
these inventions.
"With few exceptions American In
ventors have heretofore devoted
themselves exclusively to matters
which do not concern warfare. Usual
ly when an American Inventor touch
ed fighting machinery he found the
Government so backward in adopting
Improvements ho has been forced to
go abroad to find an opportunity to
develop his ideas.
"Thus Sir Hiram Maxim was driv
en out of this country, as was Lefls,
of the Lewis gun, and as have nearly
all other American modern inventors
of war material. It became the fash
ion of American Inventors to let war
machinery alone.
"The Navy Department, however,
has been far more progressive than
any other department, and within the
last ten years has shown commend
able enterprise In adoption of the far
sightedness of men like Admiral Tay
lor, Admiral Flske and others.
"Thus, with the help of the Navy
Department, Elmer A. Sperry . has
been enabled to develop his mar
velous gyroscopic compass and that
remarkable series of nautical Inven
tions that make him the 'Edison of
the Seas.'
"Sperry has done more for naviga
tion than any man who lives, and he
is now applying his genius to solving
the most difficult problem of aerial
navigation.
"Sperry la so modest few know of
his historic achievements.
"Among Sperry's inventions are
the gyroscopic compass; the auto
matic stabilizer or 'auto pilot' for
aviators: the auto anti-rolling device
Tor battleships; the aerial drift in
dicator, his enormously powerful
searchlight and innumerable other
Important devices which are to be
found on American battleships."
-MEXICO WOULD BE PEACE DOVI"
Cairana, Shocked at Horrors Across
the Ocean, Sends Note.
Washington, Feb. 12. Revolution
swept Mexico's de facto Government
entered the lists of International
peace-makers today. With an Identic
note to all neutrals, it proposed a
Joint effort to end the European war,
to be followed, In the event of fail
ure, by the cutting off o' all exports
of munitions and supplies to belli
gerents. The communication was handed
the State Department by It. P. de
Negri, Charge of the Carran" Em
bassy here. It was received with ex
pressions of mingled amusement and
gravity la official quarters. Thpre
had been no decision tonight 83 to
the American Government's response,
but tho prevailing opinion was that
Secretary Lansing would reply
promptly and briefly, referring to the
futile effort of President Wilson to
bring about peace, and pointing out
that under existing conditions an em
bargo on exports would bo a breach
of neutrality.
Among Entente Diplomats, Car
rr.nza's action was denounced as an
other evidence of German Influence
In Mexico, and as a further effort to
becloud the Issue and embarrass the
United States in the situation result
ing from Germany's new submarine
campaign. Officials of the Govern
ment were not so outspoken in voic
ing their opinions, but those who
commented informally frankly ex
pressed the same view.
It became known tonight that a
proposal similar to the one now
brought forward officially was made
at one of the closing sessions of the
Mexican-American Joint commission
which recently attempted to solve
border difficulties. Luis Cabrera.
Minister of Interior in Carranza's
Cabinet, and head of the Mexican
commissioners, suggested to the Am
ericans that he had hoped the com
mission not only would settle dis
putes between the United States and
Mexico, but might bring peace to the
world. An embargo on exports was
his plan.
Mexico's exports to Europe are
considerable and of vast Importance
to the Entente Allies. Enormous
quantities of oil for the British fleet
are drawn from the English-owned
oil fields on the Mexican east coast, i
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ist all next week. Union Drug Co.
HOUSTON ACCEITS BANK JOB
He Will Be Iiorated in Columbia
After March First.
Mr. D. A. Houston stated to The
Journal yesterday afternoon that he
had accepted the treasurershi -
Columbia Federal Farui Loan Bank.
His decision was made after several
days' conference with friends and
business associates. Mr. Houston will
probably leave for Columbia the lat
ter part of this week, where he w ill
confer with other officials of the bank
relative to securing suitable quarters
and fixtures.
It is the Intention of the Columbia
bank officials, The Journal learned
yesterday, to commence operations
by March 1. Mr. Houston, therefore,
will be a citizen of ;he Columbia
state cnpitol in a tew weeks. His
successor as cashier of the First Na
tional Bank has not yet been secured,
but the directors, it was learned, will
have a meeting in a few days to de
termine who it will be. It is said
thai several applications for the job
have already btcn made, but the pub
lic is In the air as to v. ho the new
cashier will be.
The President of thr Columbia
bank gets a salary of $6,500, and as
Mr.; Houston will draw down the
magnificent sum of $4,000 per, it is
easy to see just what a good job the
Monroe man has secured. Congress
man Robert N. Page, henator F. M.
Simmons, and Senator Lee Overman
all had a band in becuring the juicy
plum for Mr. Houston, but The Jour
nal has learned that the job was not
given to the First National Bank's
cashier cn political pull oltogether.
Civil cervlce authorities, it Is said,
have bad a line on Mr. Houston for
some time. They knew he was a
bank cashier; also that he had been
around the court house for some
years; had a license to practice law,
and would be a handy man to have
around a Federal Reserve bank.
The Columbia bank has a Presi
dent, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and
five Directors. South Carolina gets
one 'Xiirector, North Carolina one,
Florida one, and Georgia one. It is
said that applications for loans ag
gregating $300,000 have already been
filed at the Columbia bank. It will
havi a capitalization of $750,000.
Union county folks are pleased that
one pf their number has been signnal
ly Honored by the Government, yet
allfegret to lose such a good citi
zen. I Mr. Houston Is a naitve of this
county, and for many years he has
beei closely Identified with the social
aoUjaoiltical life of the community.
His elevation to the high government
Job came as a complete surprise to
Mr. Houston. He had no knowledge
of why he was called to Washington
last Tuesday night.
Mr. Houston's family will of course
go to Columbia with him. Mrs. Hous
ton is prominent In society, and her
many friends regret that she can no
lonser be a member of their circle.
MUST SAVE CANNIXti CLUBS
C'Hiiity Hoard of Auriciiltuie Is De
termined to See Xo Backsliding.
The County Board of Agriculture li
making a desperate effort to save the
Home Demonstration Work, or the
Girls' Canning Club. Representa
tives from the board have appeared
twice before the County Commission
ers in an effort to get them to in
crease their appropriation from one
hundred to two hundred dollar..
These efforts failed, and tho Board of
Agriculture Is now determined to seek
the money from other sources. It ha-s
pledged Itself for one hundred dol
lars, while h. Y. Scott, Secretary of
the Chamber of Commerce, will make
an effort to secure a hundred dollars
from the Chamber of Commerce. This
with tho. hundred dollar appropria
tion from the county, one hundred
from the Board of Education, and
two hundred dollars from the State
Department of Agriculture.
vide a total of six hundred dollars,
li Is believed that Mrs. B. H. Griffin,
who had charge of the work last year,
ran be induced to take charge again
this year if she is assured of this
amount of funds.
The work last year was hampered
cn account of lack of funds, and Mrs.
Griffin had decided that she -would be
unable to do any effective work. with
out the assistance of some h lpers.
The Increased appropriation Is sought
to provide for these helpers.
The Board of Agriculture, which
was In session Monday, also discuss
ed plans for the Union County So
cial Conference, which will be held
here March 17. Those In attendance
at the meeting were: T. J. W.
Broom, J. W. Railings, J. E. Broom,
C. J. Braswell, Sanford Smith, Vann
Sikes. J. Z. Green, M. P. McNeely, H.
M. McManus. H. Y. Scott, A. R. Ed
wards, and John Beasley.
Investigation Disclose.! There Was
"Genuine lx-ak."
Now York. Feb. 11. "I am perfectly
satisfied that the leak investigation
his shown a genuine leak existed at
Washington," Sherman L. Whipple,
the leak committee's attorney, said
today. "The committee's progress
has been hlghlv satisfactory and the
existence of such a leak, through the
medium of the two newspaper men
mentioned, Trice and Essary, has
been proven."
Mr. Wlpple planned to leave soon
for Boston, where he will remain
throe days, returning here probably
Wednesday for another sesrion of the
committee. Records of two Wall
Street brokerage firms will be ex
amined then.
The committee's findings. It was
said, were regarded as complete
exhoneration of Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo and R. W. Boiling,
the President's brother-in-law.
V. S. SAILORS HELD IX GERMANY
Will Hold Men as Iris.ners Until
Sure Germans in Anu-lie a Won't
Be Imprisoned -Amazes This Gov
ernment. Washington. Feb. 12. Formal
notification of the retention In Ger
many of the 72 American ailors
brought in as prisoners on the prize
ship Yarrowdale was fciven to '..he
state department today by Dr. Paul
Ritter, Swiss. minister here, acting
for the German government, togeth
er with an inquiry es to the status
of the crews of the German war
bound ships in American harbors.
Germany, Dr. Ritter said, had de
cided to hold the Yarrowdale prison
ers until she had had definite assur
ance that German crews in American
harbors would not be held or impris
oned. This development, wholly unex
pected, was amazing to the American
government. Officials here had come
to the conclusion that the early re
ports which misled the German gov
ernment as to the treatment of Ger
man crews here had been effectively
dispelled by the farwarding of com
plete details.
A query was at once cabled to die
governor of Hawaii the only section
where German ships are bound where
all the conditions are not known.
There Is not the least thought that
any variation will be found there in
the uniformly courteous treatment
accorded German vessels.
Eventual release of the Yarrow
dale prljoners is regarded as assured
but an urgent protest against their
re-imprisonment will be '- at
once.
HOPE TO DEFER HOSTILITIES
There Will Be No Modification of
Submarine Warfare.
Copenhagen, Feb. 10. Via Lon
don, Feb. 11. Littl? hope or expec
tation prevails in Berlin that war
with the United States is avoidable
or that a modus vlvendl reconciling
the policies of the two Governments
can be found.
There now is a desire on the part
of the authorities and a vast bulk of
the people to avoid actual hostilities
in any way consistent with the gen
eral lines of the present submarine
policy, but only in such a way. Ac
cordingly, Instructions were given, so
the Associated Press has been reli
ably Informed, to submarine com
manders before they started on their
February mission, to. take the safe
side when neutral vessels, particular
ly American, were In question, when
ever possible. Enemy merchantmen,
whn rocognized n? such, were or
dered to be sunk r.t sHM. hut n?uirr.l
merchantmen were f be wcarned
when such action. In their j-nigmcni .
war consistent with the object of the
campaign and the safety of their
own ships.
It Is realized, however, that, after
the prompt and resolute stand taken
by President Wilson, these orders
could only be palliative and only de
fer, not avoid, an ultimate break". Al
so, that If President Wilson stood by
his announcement that the destruc
tion oT American lives or ships would
be regarded as an act of hostility, a
cjf.iM belli uu'st conic sooner or later
probably foonor on account of (lie
nu:ubr of .a hip; icpv. rn enemy ship;-.
Moreover, there was the discretiona
ry nature of the in; ..mictions to rub-inarin.-'
commander:, who veto In
formed that while the careful course
toward neutral was recommended
and de-r"d. they wouM no longer be
subjected to nunishmcnt for depart
ing from their former piocedure of
warning. If they found this advi -able.
It Is considered that the only pos
sibility of the avoidance cf hostilities
would result from a modification of
Its Ftandpoint by one or the other
side, and before the Associated Press
correspondent's departure from Ber
lin, there seemed no probability that
Germany would give way thin time
or abandon the ruthless campaign
now started.
From a neutral cable office, it now
is possible to tell the story of the de
velopment of the present crisis, on
which the mo';t rigid censorship has
been applied in Germany.
To the observer in Berlin. th bp
proaeh of the crisis has been plainly
and definitely evident since the re
jection of Germany's peace overtures.
Information ns to Germany's defnlte
decision to start a sharpened subma
rine war and even the form It would
take, namely, a blockade of specified
regions, (though the idea of a "pro
hibited zone" was later substituted
for that of a "blockade" at the re
quest of the naval authorities, who
anticipated possible formal objections
under the blockade regulations) was
received by the Associated Press al
most on the morrow of Ambassador
Gerard's speech on German-Ameri
can good relations, delivered at the
banquet cf the American Association
of Commerce and Trade early In Jan
uary.
A week later, it was stated that a
full decision on th" ""nation had not
been reached, and ttW the campaign
would not be launched until after
further consultations with Germany's
Allies and the receipt of certain in
formation from Count von Bernstorff
and Count Tarnowskl von Tarnow, re
spectively German and Austurlan Am
bassadors to the United States, of
their concept of armed merchantmen
an dthclr ability to attack as war
ships.
Potatoes Ciiiarded.
A special train loaded with pota
toes was recently shipped from Lu
cerne, Colo, to Chicago. An armed
guard road in each car to see that
no one stole any of them and to keep
the ttoves giong properly.
United States Will Not
Discuss Its Differences
That Is If Germany Refuses to Aban
don her Ruthless Sub Campaign.
BLUNT NOTE SENT TO BERLIN
Renewal of German Susses l'l.slge Is
Required to Any Discussion.
BLOCKADE WO.VT BE BROKEN
German Note Is Rcganl-d as Utterly
Insincere by Officials.
Washington. Feb. 12. The United
States has llatly rejected Germany's
offer to discuss differences between
the two nations while the ruthless
submarine campaign is in progress.
Iu a note today to the Swiss Min
ister, who cn Saturday presented
orally the German proposal. Secretary
Lansing said the United States "does
not feel that it can enter into any
discussion with the German Govern
ment concerning the policy of sub
marine warfare against neutrals
which it is now pursuing, unless and
until ihe German Governm?nt renews
jits assurances of the 4th of May (the
Sussex note) and acts upon the as
surances." The State Department made public
the Secretary's reply, together with a
memorandum which at Mr. Lan
sing's suggestion Doctor Ritter, the
Swiss Minister, had prepared last
night, setting down in writing the
suggestion originally transmitted or
ally. Previously officials had declin
ed to confirm the announcement by
the Associated Pitss Saturday after
noon that such a proposal had been
delivered by Doctor Kitt?r.
'In view of the appearance in the
newspapers of February 11 of a re
port that Germany was initiating
negotiations w ith the United States in
regard to submarine warfare, :!ie De
partment of State makes tho follow
ing statement:
"A suggestion was made orally to
the Department of State late Satur
day afternoon by the Minister of
Switzerland that the German Govern
ment is willing to negotiate with the
United States, provided that the com
mercial blockade against England
would not be interfered with. At the
request of the Secretary of State, this
'suggestion was made in writing and
presented to hh.i by the Sva.:-3 Min
ister Sunday nijht.
"The communication 13 as follows:
''Memorandum:
" 'The Swiss Government has been
requested by the German Government
to say that the latter is new, as be-
fore, willing to negotiate, formally or
j informally, with the United States,
j provided that the commercial b'.ock
ade against Ur.yland will not be brok
en tlnvebv.
(Signed) "'P. RITTER.'
"Tni.i ii.emoi&ndum was given im
mediate consideration, r.r.d the fol
lowing reply waa dispatched today:
" Uy Dear Mr. Minister:
" 'I ri;i requested by iho Pivr.ldont
to say to you. in r.cknowicdging the
memorandum which you were kind
fnoush tc ieul u! the 1 it li in
stant, that ii'.e Cjveir.:.: ;.t cf the
United Sti.t w nilil ;,iad!y discuss
with the Gorman Coveniim lit any
questions it miit proi-o . tor ubous
Mon weiy ii tj v, ;:!i,l av.- i;s procla
mation of ihe 3ist cf January, in
which. rudi'.e:;!y and whhr.ut previous
intimation vi any kind, it cam-riled
the insurance i which it had given
this Govern:.!' nt on the 4l'u of May
last; but that it dees noi foil tii.it it
can enter i'-.tj any I'.iscve -.ion with tha
j German Govi-rnn:int cciivrning the
j policy of submarine v.arfare against
neutrals which it is r.o; ;n:r:u;ni; un
less and until the Ceri:i:;:i Govorn
, went renews its a.-:nni.:r es, of i'.ae 4Ji
j of May and acts upon th. assusi-nees.'
I "No other interchange: on thin sub
ijict has taken place tween this
Government and any other Govern
ment or person."
In view of the fad that the United
States ha3 taken the most vigorous
course possible short of war to de
nounce the ruthless rihmarine war
fare, officials of the Government re
gard the German proposal to nego
tiate while the campaign Is in prog
ress as utterly insincere. From the
first the move has been looked upon
:and resented as a piece of propa
ganda, designed to becloud the Issue
and put the United States into a
false position of belligerency.
I The question of whether navy guns
shall be provided for Ai'ior (
owners desiring to arm their vessels
for defense against subiuailnej bas
been submitted to Provident Wilson.
,The State Department has -commended
that the guns be provided.
I There is said to bo no authority
under which the Navy Department
, can actually supply the guns, though
there are precedents for the loaning
'of weapons under l'md Co.- t' -t i ;
turn. Under existing law, on'y con
demned guns and stores can be sold
by the Navy.
Egg Shipment Released.
Over two years ago a rhlpr.ient of
5,000 cases of eegs was pent out from
Shanghai. China, bound for Seattle.
Wash. When the eggs reached San
Francisco health officers placed them
under quarantine and they were held
j until a few days ago when the Call-
iornia couns noming that health au
thorities have no Jurisdiction over
eggs passing through the state to
some port In another state, ordered
them released. This decision will
open a market here for large ahlp-
menis or eggs rrora the Orient, it is
believed. Bakeries can find ready
use for all the fresh eggs that come
over and the stale one are good for
.tanning leather.