America

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 18 February 1915, Page 5

America

ADVICE FOR COUNT BERNSTOFF. shortage <;f food precludes Hui'E i)F YICTOIIY. Washington, February. 18. , The State Department informed Britain that the Wilhelmina's owners have satisfied the department that her cargo is not intended for combatants. The department suggests her release, unless Britain lias grounds not hitherto advanced for acting otherwise. The New York Times says: "There is something pathetic in Count Bcrnstorff's appeals to America to cause Britain to desist from interfering with food'stuffs, as what the German people are suffering is due, to war conditions. 7 ' The paper continues, "We have not caused the conditions and are unable to remove them. If Germany is short of food victory is out of the question. The longer she. prolongs the war the harder will be the terms of peace.'' Times and .Sydney Run Services. London, February lfi. American newspapers praise the firmness of the American Note to Germany. ft is runumr-'d in Washington that .Germany is deliberately trying to stir up war with America so as to enable the Kaiser to placate the people with the excuse of overwhelming odds. Count Bernstorfi', conversing with "Mr Bryan, hinted that Germany's blockade might be relaxed if Germany was assured of n, continuous food supply. He informed Mr Brya,, that it would be In the interests of neutral commerce to urge Britain to accept the assurance that Germany's commandeering decree did not apply to imported foodstuffs. FINANCIAL DEMORALISATION. s. DIRECT OUTCOME OF THE WAR. PpS~<r Received 17. 0.40 p.m.'*'" 0 New York, February )6. ( _The foreign exchange is demoralised. Sight drafts o„ London have reached the lowest figure for thirty years. A meeting of international bankers is pending to endeavour to adjust conditions. The situation is largely due to the heavy exports of war materials, coupled with Britain's refusal to release gold.