Evening star., 1914-11-13
j. S. NOT NOW TO SEEK
OPENING OF NORTH SEA
Has No Present Intention of join
ing Other Neutrals in Plea
to Belligerents.

The United States government has
no present intention of Joining other
neutral maritime powers in representa-
tions to the European belligerents
looking toward the opening to neutral
merchantmen of trade channels in the
North sea, now strewn with mines.
Secretary Bryan said the American
government was not ready to discuss
the matter" He told Mr. Brun, the
minister from Denmark. who called at
the State Department to ask what this
governments attitude might be, that
nothing had been done toward prepar-
ing protest.
1t is understood the position of State
Department officials is that they do not
know who has laid mines in the North
sea and therefore have no authority
for directing a protest to any particu-
lar nation among the belligerents.
The notification recently received
from Great Britain of the closure OF
the North sea merely stated that mine
fields were located on routes previously
used by merchantmen traversing the
North sea, and advising such vessels to
seek other routes. There was nothing
to Indicate that the mines were laid by
prevailed that many of them, at least,
were German.
Amsterdam Broached Subject.
The suggestion that the United States
join in effort to open the North sea
to neutral commerce came from AM
sterdam, and it is understood represen-
tations on the subject already have
been made to Great Britain by sew
eral neutrals.
The Italian ambassador, Count di Cellere,
has presented a memorandum to Secre-
tary Bryan. explaining that new shipping
regulations announced through the ltalan
conSulateS did not discriminate against
American vessels, but merely required
a guarantee from all vessels carrying
steeage passengers which were not
previously certified as conforming 10
the Italian laws in regard to such
ships American shipping companies
had protested.
France and Great Britain have warn
ed Ecuador and Colombia in vigorous
terms that violations OF neutrality by
those countries will not be tolerated
After making strong representations
through the British and French minis
ters at Quito and Bogota, the Brltlsn
and French governments considered
municate to the United States govern
ment in view of possible complications
that might arise between COLOMBIA
and Ecuador and the European bellig-
erents.
Two Notes Presented to U. S.
Two notes were presented to secre-
tary Bryan by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice'
the British ambassador, and jules
Jusserand, the French ambassador, re-
spectively. calling the attention OF
the United States to the representa-
tions which had been made to Colon.
bia and Ecuador. The notes do not
request that the United States take any
action, merely advising the asndng washing
ence with the South American states,
in line with the customary policy OF
keeping the United States informed OF
matters of vital consequence passing
between European nations and couh-
tries of this hemisphere.
High officials of the Washington gov
ernment said the notes were phraSed IN
such a way as not to require a reply
from Secretary Bryan, and there Is no
Implied obligation in them requiring
discussion of the matter between this
government and Ecuador and Colom-
bia.
Both the ministers from Colombia and
Ecuador volunteered to Mr.. Bryan de-
mails of the alleged violations OF neu-
trality.