Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-30
EXPECT BRITAIN
TODELAY REPLY
To WILSON NOTE

WASHINGTON, Dec. S0.--An I'M
mediate reply from Great Britain Is
not expected by this government to
its note protesting against British tn
terference with United States COM
merce. This was declared today by
high government officials. They do
not believe q rejoinder will be forth
coming short of two or three weeks.
Delay in the British reply, it was
pointed out, hinges upon two features
the serious character OF the protest
and necessity for great consideration
and care In framing the reply, and
also the fact that the situation Is not
Immediately critical or urgent.
Strong intention In high official cir
cles was evident today to back up
strongly the American protest. Party
lines in Congress were obliterated in
the united stand behind the presi-
dents action. Partisanship is forgot
ten. Leaders of all parties praised
this governments stand. Few, how
ever, regarded the possibility Of
break with Great Britain as other
than extremely remote
white House Action Endorsed.
The White House received many
letters and kilograms today entlTusi-
astically supporting the President for
his action. Men high in commercial
and financial life praised the vigor-
Gus stand taken.
For the first time Il was learned
today from a high official source in
the state department that the final
cause prompting this governments
action was the vacillating and con-
stantIy shifting policy of England In
-. 10 ~ faa
case OF turpentine and rosin--naval
stores--was the straw which broke
the cameps back and precipitated
sending Of the note. Early in Mo-
cernber British Ambassador SPRING.
Rice delivered to the state depart
ment a note from Sir Edward Grey
stating that turpentine and rosin
would no longer be treated as con-
traband. The state department no.
titled rosin and turpentine shippers
Immediately that henoeforth their
products would be exempt from
seizure.
Southern shippers rejoiced at this
announcement because rosin and tur-
pentine furnish a convenient ballast
for cotton cargoes. A few days later
after ships carrying rosin. turpentine
and cotton were seized the state de-
partment was surprised to learn that
rosin and turpentine had been placed
back on the contraband list by Great
Britain and that such cargoes were
being seized as rapidly as British
men of war could find them.
Great Britain's excuse for this ac-
ton was that she had learned the
Germans were making use of rosin
and turpentine in the manufacture OF
new kind OF bomb.
Trrouhta Over Conner Episuree
Another of the strongest features
OF the protest, it is uderstood, is
based upon the action of Great
Britain in the seizure of copper ship
ments destined to Scandinavian
countries and to italy.
Great Britain promised that If Dem
mark, Norway, Sweden and Italy
would give guarantees that copper
they received from the United States
would not be exported, 1t would no
longer interfere with shipments. Such
guarantees had been given by these
countries, but Great Britain, despite
States, is still splitting technicalities
over keeping the promise and. In the
meantime, OBTAINING shipments at
Gibraltar and In Scotland ports.
1t is declared that agreements re.
garding contraband, conditional con-
traband and -contraband made In
black and white with Great Britain
have been made only to be broken
within a few days.
1t was also learned officially today
that this government vigorously OBJ
jects to unwarranted extension by
England Of the contraband list. Off
cials stated that articles have been
added, without authority of either in
ternational law or usage or the Hague
convention, to the English contraband
list as fast as this country would open
commerce in such merchandise with
neutral countries.
Direct indication that other neutral
nations are preparing to join with
the United States in the protest to
Great Britain against interference
with shipping was seen today when
several foreign diplomats requested
for their government copies Of the
United States note. Copies were fur
nished for Italy, Holland, Denmark,
Norway and Sweden. Whatever ac-
tion they take will be based upon
the attitude of the United States.
Ambassador Page said that he had
delivered the note to the British for
eign office yesterday. He added that
Sir Edward Grey was not in Lon
don and that formal acknowledge
ment of the receipt OF the note by
the British government would not be
forthcoming until hfa raturr