Arizona republican., 1914-12-29

American Note to Sir Ed
ward Grey Protests Ener-
getically Against Seizure
Of Copper Cargoes and
Foodstuffs.
HOSTILE DESTINATION
MUST BE SHOWN,
United States Was Patient
at First Realizing Bur
dens Of War: Commerce of
Country Must Be Paral-
yzed No Langer.
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1spATcHl

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S-The Unit
ed states government dispatched a long
note to Great Britain, insisting on an
early Improvement in the treatment of
American commerce by the British
fleet 1t gave warning that much feel
ing has been aroused in this country
and that public criticism is general
over unWarranted interference with the
legitimate foreign trade of the United
States. Since France has adopted prae-
tically the same decree on contraband
as Great Britain, the note is virtually a
statement intended for all members of
the triple entente
Feeling has been aroused on the sub
Ject to such an extent, the communi-
cation says, that the American govern
ment feels compelled to ask definite in
formation as to Britains attitude. in
order to take such measures as will
protect American citizens in their
rights. One of the complaints cited in
the note is against the treatment of
American cargoes of copper.
The document, constituting the
strongest representations on this sub
ject made by the United States to any
belligerent since the outbreak of the
war, was cabled to Ambassador Page
to be formally presented to Sir Edward
Gray, British foreign secretary Its
preparation was begun a month ago by
state department officials and finally
had the personal attention of the presi-
dent, who revised the phraseology with
minute care The note declares at the
outset that the representations are
made in a friendly spirit, but that the
United States considers it best to speak
in terms of frankness, lest silence be
construed as acquiescence in a policy
which infringed the rights of American
citizens under the laws of nations The
United States. points out that 1t was
patient at first, realizing the unexpect-
ed outbreak of hostilities had heaped a
mass of burdens on the British govern
ment, thinking an early clearing of the
air would come. Five months have
now elapsed the note asserts, with no
improvement in the situation. The
American note mentioning that food
stuffs are conditional contraband since
they may be destined for the use of the
| civil population as well as the army,
| declared that foodstuffs with hostile
| destination must be shown to be con-
| signed to the army of the enemy be-
! fore they be declared contraband. This
is perhaps the broadest declaration of
| the American note: if accepted by
! Great Britain, American trade with
| Germany and Austria virtually at a
standstill now, will be resumed. includ-
! ing wheat, flour livestock and other
| foodstuffs. Taking up the subject of
| the detention of American ships at sea.
| the Washington government states it
! cannot tolerate undue delays in exam
lining them or in conveying such ships
to British ports for a detailed exam
ination and argues the proof of hostile
| destination of the cargo must be evi-
| denced at the time of the search at sea.
F., The beligerent right of search, it adds,
is fully recognized, but it can not be
extended to the point of diverting
! American ships into belligerent ports
merely on suspicion.
The American note mentioning that
foodstuffs are conditional contraband
since they may be destined for the use
of the civil population as well as the
army, says the United States, is in en-
tire agreement with the doctrine ex-
pressed by Lord Salisbury, British for
eign secretary, in his correspondence
with the Washington government con-
cerning the shipment of foodstuffs to-
the Transvaal during the Boer war in
South Africa. Lord Salisbury wrote
then:
"Foodstuffs with a hostile destination
can be considered contraband of war
only if they are supplied for the enc
myS forces. 1t is not sufficient that
they are capable of being so used it
must be shown that this is a fact at
their destination at the time of seizure"
The United States asserts that it
views with growing concern the deten-
ton of scores of American cargoes
consigned from this country to neutral
ports. contending it should be the duty
of belligerent to protect neutral com
merce and prevent innocent merchants
, from suffering,
J 1t is charged that Great Britain is
not according the same treatment to
} American trade in copper with Scandi-
navian countries as she is to commerce
in this product between the United
I States and Italy under the same condi-
tions of shipment Even though the
} Italian government proclaimed an en-
t bargo on the expectation of copper
5 from Italy to bellgerent countries and
$ similar embargo is in force in Nor
e way. Denmark and Sweden, consign-
. ments of copper to Italy from the
. United States are said to be held up
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