South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-29
j. 6. DEMANDS
FAIR TREATMENT
Of HER COMMERCE
Long Note Dispatched to Eng
land Covering Entire Sub
jeCt of Relations Between
Two Countries.

WASHINGTON. Dec. %. ~ The
United States government dispatched
a long note 70 Great Britain insisting
upon an early improvement in the
treatment Of American commerce by
the British fleet.
IT gave warning that much feeling
had been aroused in this country and
that public criticism was general over
unwarranted interference with the
legitimate foreign trade Of the United
States.
The document. constituting the
strongest representations on this sub
iect made by the United States TO any
of the belligerentS since the outbreak
Of the war was cabled 10 Ambassador
Page to be formally presented TO Sir
Edward Grey, the British foreign sec
Rotary. It's preparation was begun a
month ago by Solicitor Johnson
Counsellor Robert Lansing and Sec
Bryan, and finally. during the last
two weeks. had the personal attention
of Pres't Wilson himself. who revised
its phraseOlOgy with minute care.
VIII Not Tolerate Delays.
Taking up the subject of detention
OF American ships at sea the Wash
ingtOn government states that it can
not tolerate undue delays in exam
ming them or the conveying of such
ships TO British ports for detailed
examination.
The United States asserts. more
over. that il views with growing con-
Germ the scores Of American cargOes
consigned from this country 20 neu-
trail ports, contending that ii should
be the duty of the belligerent to pro-
tect neutral commerce and prevent
innocent merchants from suffering.
IT is charged that Great Britain is
not according the same treatment to
u.
scandinavian countries as to COM
merce in this product between the
United States and Italy under the
same conditions Of shipment.
As the detailed point OF view Of the
United States in numerous specific
cases OF detentiOns and seizures Of
cargoes had been set forth in series
of emphatic protests, most of which
have gone unheeded, tOday's COM
munication was cOuched in general
terms covering the entire subject of
the relations between the United
states and Great Britain as affected
by the latter's naval policy, cOnsid-
cred highly Objectionable by this gov
eminent.
The note declares at the outset that
the representations are made in a
friendly spirit, but that the United
States considers 1t best TO speak in
terms of frankness lest silence be con-
strued as an acquiescence in a policy
on the part of Great Britain which
infringed the rights of American citi-
zens under the laws of nations.
Includes Triple Entente.
Since France had adopted practle-
ally the same DEGREES on cOntraband
as has Great Britain todays note is
virtually a statement intended for all
the members OF the triple entente.
reimbursement alone for cargOes
unlaWfully detained or seized il states
does not remedy the evil as the chief
difficulty is the moral effect OF Brit
ism practice on American exporters.
who are restrained by 1t from taking
risks or hazards which in no case
ought to surround legitimate trade
between the United States and other
neutral countries.
Feeling has been aroused on the
subject TO such an extent, the COM
munication adds, that the American
government feels compelled to ask
for definite information as 10 Great
Britain's attitude in order that it may
take such measures as Will protect
American citizens in their rights.
Five months have now elapsed, the
note asserts, with no Improvement in
the situation.
Reserving until some other date the
discussion OF those articles which
Great Britain mas taken from the gen
orally accepted lists of nOn-cOntra-
band, the American government de
clares that the British fleets have
been regarding absolute and cOndi-
tional contraband as in the same
class. wherein the law defines absolute
cOntraband as consisting OF those ar
ticles intended directly for the use of
an army or navy and conditional con-
traband those products susceptible of
ms nv hrsf xrrHn
tination must be the determining fac
tor in detentiOns.
The American note mentions that
foodstuffs are conditional COntraband,
since they may be destined for the
use OF a civil population as well as an
army. and is in entire agreement with
the doctrine expressed by Lord Sails
bury, British foreign secretary. in his
correspondence with the Washington
government concerning the shipment
OF foodstuffs TO the Transvaal during
the Boer war i'm South Africa.