Evening journal., 1914-12-30
MORE MAY PROTEST
SHIPPING Hold UP
Five Nations Ask For Copies
of United States Note to
Great Britain
Rv The United Press.

by Inc lnlleu fTeho'
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.--An immedi-
ate reply from Great Britain Is not eN-
pectod by this government to its note |
protesting against the British interter- /
encc with American commerce. This was
declared today by high government oii'
cials. They do not believe q reioinder
will be forthcoming short OF two OF
three weeks.
DELAY I'm the British reply, it was
pointed out, hinges upon two features
the serious character of the protest ana
necessity for great consideration an"
care in framing the reply, and also the
fact that the situation Is not immedi-
atcly critical or urgent. For five months
the conditions complained of by the
United States have existed and no urg'
ent, important case involving American
shipping is now at ISSUE.
Some DELAY. however, in transmission
of the note is puzzling President WI
son and his advisors The American
note was completed last Thursday, ac-
cordng 10 reliable information. The
J.. President personally stated yesterday
that he thought 1t was delivered IN
b. London last Saturday. Instead, press
dispatches today recited that the note
r.
foreign office, even in the vacation alb
v scnce of Sir Edward Grey, until ycster-
Q day. Lord Grey was to personally re-
+ ceive the note today.
Strong intention in high official cir
cles was evident today to back uI
Il strongly the American protest. Party
=, lines in Congress we're obliterated n
= the united stand behind the Presi
/, dents action. Partisanship is forgot
ten. Leaders of all parties praised
q this governments stand. Few, how
n ever, regarded the possibility of
A break with Great Britain as othe
=, than extremely remote.
~ The White House received man
- letters and kilograms today enthusl
= astically supporting the president fo
- his action. Men high in commercia
and financial life praised the vigorou
~ stand taken.
~ For the first time, it was learne
o. today. from a high official source /
w the State Department that the fni
re cause prompting this government
Oh action was the vacillating and cor
stantly shifting policy of England
III it's treatment of contraband The cas-
III of turpentine and rosin-naval stor'
re was the STRAW which broke q
r. cameIs back" and precipitated q
re sending Of the note.
Early in November, British Amba
Ill sador Spring-Rice delivered to q
te, State Department, a note from :
is Edward Grey, stating that turpenti
ire and rosin would no longer be treat
m as contraband The state DEPARTING
lso notified rosin and turpentine shippe
yh- Immediately that henceforth tn,
2 Z. products would be exempt from SCI
ere ure.
Southern shippers reioiced at d
lies announcement because rosin and u
,es- pentine furnish a convenient ball
in for cotton cargOes. A few days LAT
am after ships carrying rosin. turpent
No and cotton were seized. the State
partment was surprised to learn 9
.os- rosin and turpentine had been pla'
k,1 back on the contraband list by Or
uiii Britain and that such cargoes W
llou t,,i being seized as rapidly as Brit
Diii i men-of-war could find them.
o'e' Great Britains excuse for this
rea- tion was that she had learned
Germans we're making use of ro
en- and turpentine in the manufactl
hat of a new kind Of bomb.
we Another of the strongest featu
sur OF The protest II Is uhueiatoou
re- bas I'd upon the action of or
S to Britain in the seizure of copper 81
veil, meats destined to scandinavian co
that tries and TO Italy
vita Indications that other neutral
p at tiDns are preparing TO join with
United States in the protest to GI
Britain against the interference
shipping. we're seen today when
eral foreign diplomats requested
their governments, copies OF
m United States note.
in Copies were furnished for II
lDD Holland Denmark, Norway
Sweden. Whatever action they
will Se based upon the attitude OF
,dual United States.
80 Ambassador Page said that he
.olo- delN cred the note to the Bri
Gov foreign Office yesterday. He az
oday that as Sir Edward Grey was no
war London formal acknowledgement
'roop the receipt of the note by the Br
'oun- government would not be forthcor
nuer- until his return.