New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

The right Of Great Britain 70 force
ships 20 enter British ports 20 be
searched g said. 70 be open 20 cues
ton. Under the older interpretations
Of international law the search OF a
neutral vessel had 10 be performed on
the high seas. The visitation by the
officers making the investigation mad
10 he made forthwith. The British
point out that such obligation is ar
chaic, as the ships OF to-day are many
times larger than they were. Tor IN
stance. during the American Civil War,
WHOM searches were OF vessels Of only
a few hundred tons burden. Modern
cargo ships are thousands Of tons reg
ster, and the work Of searching tnem
requires considerable time and con-
siderable number Of men,.
"The position Of Great Britain and
Of the United States as well would be
greatly s.mplifed if the manifests OF
vessels could be taken al their lace
value" said q British diplomat 20 the
( Tribune correspondent tonight. ms
statement is altogether obvious, ana
at the same time It is not unworthy
Of being pointed out that # maniies,s
Of the ladinC of a neutral vessel could
I be accepted by the naval authorities
Of the btlligerent, be they French,
Russian or British, there would be an
soutelv no detentionS az all, ana
American commerce could 60 on WITH
out a shadow OF interference
The State Department is preparing
list Of vessels previously and presently
detained by the British authorities. II
will make this public tomorrow.
Diplomats Deeply Interested.
Foreign diplomats were deeply inter
ested i'm the pronouncement OF the ad-
miuistration with regard to America
position, and evidence Of this interest
was quickly seen at the State Depart
ment. All day heads of the embassies
and legations dropped in 70 secure cop
les of the note. They were informed
as TO the details Of its contents, but no
COPIES were furnished In some m
stances the note was read TO lnqulrng
officials.
On the basis Of the international law
involved the protest of the United
States at this juncture is deemed right
and proper II is felt by diplomats
generally that the patience shown by
the United States has been sufficiently
demonstrated, and now that the war
has settled down to the deathgrlp
which exists in the western theatre and
in Russia the one maritime power or
the Triple Entente out Of consideration
as interfering with our commerce the
time is ripe for the United States to
make its position manifest
The Executive confession that there
is, an element of wrong injected into
the general problem by the conduct OF
certain American shippers has served
TO minimize the possible acerblty OF the
present document. Washington reefs
that the situation may be expected
speedily TO right itself. That the Ills
complained Of will cease as soon as the
first British expression IS received IS
regarded as unlikely, but the atmosphere
is now cleared, any- II is regarded as
highly probable that the restoration
of conditions more nearly approaching
normal may be looked for soon.
II is understood in Washington that,
following close on the heels of the
notice TO Great Britain, pronounce
ment may be expected from the state
Department i'm answer 80 the protest
against the shipment OF arms TO bel
ligerents of the allied group recently
lodged with the administration by the
German-American Alliance. The de-
partment is expected TO reply that COM
pliance with the suggestion Of the
German-Americans is impossible under
the administration Interpretation OF
r the international obligations Of the
, United States. 1t is to point out that
estoppel Of shipments to Great Britain
France and Russia OF arms and mum
lions cannot be made without thereby
} doing an unneutral act.
Senators Seek knowledge.
The Presidents protest to Great
Britain was the forerunner Of more az
gressive action by Senator'S when Con-
gress reconvened to-day. Senator
Walsh, Of Montana, who urged the adj
ministration to do something to pre-
d vent interference with copper ship
. ments. introduced a resolution requect-
ing the President TO send to the Senate
all correspondence between the United
States and foreign governments rela-
b tive TO the shipment Of copper and
keen the Senate informed of the prog
ress of negotiations. The Senator
from Montana will address the Senate
. on the subject later in the week, and
. will undoubtedly support the policy
. the Presidents protest involves.
Senator Smith presented telegram
from the Board Of Trade of Brunswick
, Ca, protesting against the seizure OF
The South" the protest read, "has
suffered the loss Of untold millions
; through the effects Of the European
! war on her three great sources OF
; wealth-cotton, lumber and naval
stores. If this action Of Great Britain
} is allowed 10 stand, the naval stores in
: dustry will be brought to a stand
81 still"
Similar kilograms OF protest were
submitted bv Senator Nardaman.
On tbe whole. Senators were disposed
] 70 look with favor on the stand taken
7 bv the President. Republicans were
for the most part non-commlttal
b though they had little or no criticism
20 make, but Democrats generally COM
mended the President Tor his action.
In some quarters there was talk to-
dav Of possible rcprisals by the United
States in case the British feet did not
d accord better treatment 20 American
carpoes. One idea advanced M Con-
oressional circles and discussed IN eN'
ecutiye quarters TO some extent was
81 the possible enforcement OF an en-
E bargo against shipment TO the Allies OF
nroducts which the United States con
. sidered legitimate articles Of trade, but
b ybicb the British feet prevented from
reaching Germany or Austria.
In circles close 20 the White House
,oyever. the belief was confidently eN
/ messed that none of these measures
, would be necessary, as Great Britain
understanding the seriousness OF me
situation 10 American industries. woulC
take steps 10 amcliorate the CONDITION
s,.ainst which this government had pro
tested.
SACK TRADE TO