Evening star., 1914-12-30
British Cabinet Discusses
Protest as to Restrictions
on American Commerce.
NOTE IS MADE THE THEME
OF NEWSPAPER WRITERS
Belief Expressed by Officials That
the Differences May Be
Easily Reconciled.

LONDON, December 30, c:10 pm
Foreign Secretary Grey returned tc
London from the country today. His
coming was followed in the afternoon
by meeting of the cabinet, at which
before ii full muster of his majesty
ministers. there was discussed the pro-
test of the United States government
concerning the existing restrictions on
American commerce.
During the afternoon Sir Edward
Grey held a conference at the foreign
office with David Lloyd George, the
chancellor of the excheGuer: Reginald
McKenna, secretary of home affairs;
Walter Runciman. president of the
board of trade, and Sir Francis HOP
wood. civil lord of the admiralty. on
the subject of the American note. A
frank discussion of the note by the
British officials shows that they re-
gard it as friendly. and they do not
believe the differences between Ameri-
can and Great Britain are such that
cannot be reconciled satisfactorily.
Much depends upon the effective eff
fort on the part of Denmark, Holland,
shipment to- Germany and Austria
Hungary of cargoes received from the
United States Until watertight reg
ulations are put in force in these coun-
held out by the British government for
rclaxation in the matter of searching
american cargoes.
Italy's Example Cited.
One. prominent British official pointed
out that Italy has effectively checked
contraband shipments to Austria-Hun-
gary and Germany. with the result
that Great Britain is not stopping
ships destined for Italy unless there
appears special reason to suspect
fraudulent consignments.
A guarantee by the United States as
to the honesty of bills of consignment
and the enactment of strict regulations
for the severe punishment of fraud,
granting that the American govern
n,ent could find sattsfa ctory means of
king such a guarantee, is admitted
by this prominent official as possible
step which might cause a relaxation
in the. search of American cargoes.
British officials call attention to the
lenient attitude adopted by the British
government toward American cotton,
which they say might easily be re-
garded as contraba nd. because of it's
extensive use in guncotton, but which
has not been put on the contra band
list. They say this leniency toward
cotton. however, has been abused by
shippers who used 1t to conceal copper
and other contrab band
Mote Received Today.
TIC official informatio bureau today
sHvr out the following statement:
There is no truth in the statement
that the note of the United States gov
eminent on the subject of interference
of trade was presented by the Ameri-
can amba ssador through Lord Haldane
at the foreign Office yesterday Sir Ed
ward Grey has been away for a few
days. During his absence. at his re-
quest and with the approval of the
prime minister. Lord Haldane took
charge of the foreign office. The note
from the United States government has
only been received today
Friendly Understanding Expected.
The American note is the subject of
the leading editorial articles in virtual
Va all of the London evening papers.
Tke press unanimously calls attention
to the friendliness of the note, in spite
of it's firmness, and expresses the be-
lief that ground for an understanding
with the United States soon would be
reached.
The note of the American govern
ment ha- only just reached the British
government and it is likely to occupy
the attention of the ministry for con-
siderable time. In the meanwhile it is
understood that Walter II. Page, the
American ambassador. will be invited
to go over the entire question with