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Show " GREAT BRITAIN MAY NOW YIELD Freedom of Seas May Be Brought About by the United States. Washington, Aug. 29. Officials in Washington who have given close l attention to the diplomatic developments develop-ments of tho past two weeks, are leaning to tho view that Groat Britain may accept the suggestion which the United States Is expected soon to make, of mediation between Great Britain and Germany on the subject of the freedom of the seas. The suggestion was made to Germany Ger-many In tho last note of this government govern-ment on the Lusltania case. Germany's Ger-many's acceptance, which Is expected lo accompany hex announcement that she Is prepared to settle for the loss of American lives In the destruction of that vessel, will bo forthcoming as soon as the Arabic case is settled. Tho United States will be in a position posi-tion then to make the offer to Great Britain. Reasons Are Given. The reasons given for the view that Great Britain may accept, are the following: "First, the sentiment that now exists ex-ists among practically all tho south- ! -'" vuiibica.iun;ii dim aujlilLura, illiu many from the northern states, that congress should take .some step in reprisal for Great Britain's treatment of American cargoes, unless some measure of relief Is offered at an early date. Great Britain, It Is said, cannot help but realize that unless she take some stop to moderate her treatment .of American property, especially es-pecially cotton cargoes, there Is a strong possibility that a measure to place an embargo on arms and ammunition am-munition will be forced through congress, con-gress, despite the administration's announced an-nounced opposition to such a policy. In this connection it is of the utmost significance that the representatives from the southern states, who are most bitter on the subject, control the committees of the house and sen-ato sen-ato and wield the greatest influence. "Second, the Inroads that tho German Ger-man submarines have made upon British trade The effect of the activities ac-tivities of the submarines has been not only to causo a great loss of property and lives, but to raise the rate of Insurance on British ships and cargoes to the point where It Is bound to be burdensome. Therefore, the tremendous cost of Great Britain's Brit-ain's starvation policy may, It Is believed, be-lieved, have some Influence In bringing bring-ing her to a decision to abandon It "Aside from its probable effect on Great Britain's attitude toward mediation media-tion of the freedom of the seas, the approach of the session of congress and the likelihood that It will at once take up tho question of establishing an embargo will undoubtedly hasten tho administration's efforts to Induce Great Britain and Germany to come to an agreement of some kind. The president, It Is well understood, would much prefer to have the question settled set-tled before congress meets because of the danger that congress might put through some hasty legislation which would add to existing international complications. "It Is believed that when the offer of mediation Is made It will be submitted sub-mitted in a form something similar to the proposals of the United States on February 20 of this year, when it attempted to persuade Great Britain to come to an agreement. At that timo the United States said This government ventures to express ex-press the hope that the two belligerent bellig-erent governments may, through reciprocal reci-procal concessions, find a basis for agreement which will relieve neutral ships engaged In peaceful commerce fYoin the danger which they will Incur In-cur on the high seas adjacent to the coasts of the belligerents." It then made certain suggestions regarding the sowing of mines and the use of submarines against merchant mer-chant vessels and proposed also that Groat Britain agree: "That food and foodstuffs will not be placed on the absolute contraband list and that shipments of such commodities com-modities will not be interfered with or detained by British authorities if consigned to agencies designated by the United States government in Germany Ger-many for the receipt and distribution solely to the non-combatant population," popula-tion," Britain Rejecta. Germany indicated her desire to accept ac-cept the suggestions, but Great Britain Brit-ain rejected them. In its next move the United States will go considerably farther. The usunl method adopted Is for the government gov-ernment which offers its good offices to suggest that the belligerents appoint ap-point representatives to meet In some neutral city and discuss the entire subject. It is presumed that the United States will take such a course. In the meantime everything waits on the receipt of Germany's assurances assur-ances regarding the sinking of the Arabic. These are expected as soon as Berlin receives the report of the commander of the submarine which sank the vessel. At the state department depart-ment it was said tonight that no word had been- received all day from Berlin Ber-lin and It was not known whether the report had been received by the German government. Count Von Bernstorff, the German ambassador, left Washington for New York today. He will probably remain there until he receives advices to bo communicated to the state departr ment, t ' |
