Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-31
WASHINGTON. CONFIDENT
OF AM|GABEE SOLUTION.
Officials Surprised That American
Note Is Regarded as "Brusque"
in Some Quarters.
MATTER OF FRANK STATEMENT
Discussion Already Turns to Meas
ures United States Should Take in
Cooperation With Great Britain
to Reduce Necessity for Search.


WASHINGTON, December 3O.-while
the American note to Great Britain,
protesting against Interruptions to the
commerce of this ,conutry. continued to-
day to absorb official Washington there
was confidence that dif1culties of the
last five month eventually would he
amicably adjusted.
Already the discussion has turned
to measures the United States could
take, In cooperation with Great Brit
ain, to reduce the necessity for ex-
tended search on the high seas. 1t
became known that Treasury Depart
ment agents, acting with tho State De-
partmcnt, had inspected one cotton
cargo, and that the inspection had sat-
is!ied the British embassy and facili-
tated progress OF the shipment to It's
destination.
The belief was held in official quar-
ters that an understanding might be
reached whereby cargoes could be GER
titled before their departure. and thus
made Immune from, detention.
High officials Of the Washington gov
ernment were somewhat surprised that
the American note had been regarded
as brusque' in some London quarters
they said the British Cabinet, after
single reading of the document. must
be convinced that the United States
Hou sDohcn III the most friendly spirit,
though none the less earnestly and
cmphatically.
Those familiar with the notes con-
tents say II is a matter Of fact and
frank statement of the difficulties ex-
pe:ienced by American shippers and
the failure OF the British government
to meet the protests which have been
made.
REIMBURSEMENT ALONE
~. ~
In ALL thirty American ships and
cnrgoes. their value totaling millions.
nave been detained. The note points
out specifically, however. that reim-
hursemcnt alone cannot cure the sit
uation, as the British fleets activity
has restrained many American ex-
porters. who fear risks involved in
shipments.
with respect to cotton shipments, the
case of one or two llegitimate car
goes. II Is recognized. has caused the
Hrttish government to suspect all ship
ments
The United States has no evidence
that there has been contraband con-
cealed In cotton cargoes. but England
has made two specific complaints. and
the American government has issued
n warning that one fraudulent ship
ment must produce embarrassment to
cargoes generally.
Secretary Bryan declined to give
my details OF the note to-day. He
described II as general statement
summarizing the American position in
several specific cases. Neutral diplo-
mats were not given a copy OF it, but
were informed that the first newspaper
report or It was accurate. They were
told that the state Department. stIll
regarded the note as confidential
BASIS OF SEVERAL
SI'iSCIFIC tI,ROTESTS
The general points on which the
note complains. and which have been
the basis OF several specific protests
hitherto, are substantially as follows: u
i. American cargoes have been
searched on the high seas--a beilig-
erent right that Is not denied-but the
Continued on Second page.)