The Washington herald., 1914-12-30
U. $. May Lead NeutrnI..

her way.
U. s. May Lead NeutraIs.
That the United States government
may be accorded leadership In the strug-
gle OF neutral countries against British
interference with oversee trade was in
dictated yesterday by the interest mani
Tested by representatives. Of neutral gov
ernments in the latest communication
from Washington to the British govern
ment on this subject.
While the State Department, in its note
TO the British foreign office. spoke only
for the interests OF this country rs In
jured by British practices. IL developed
yesterday that the document gave con-
crete expression TO similar grievances of
other neutral governments
There is little expectation that as a
result OF the protest of the United States
the British government will alter in any
fundamental way its treatment of Amer
lean trade. About all that is hoped for
is that Great Britain will modify the
methods by which she is executing her
policy with regard 20 control Of the
seas in such way as 10 make 1t less
hurtful TO innocent trade. and more CON
siderate of the legitimate interests OF
the neutrals. The situation might BE
greatly relieved. II Is declared IL Great
Britain would make the practices Of her
naval commanders with regard 10 the
seizure and detention Of ships more rea-
sonable. and cease applying. as is now
charged, the most drastic methods to all
cases i'm which there is the slightest
suspicion of Immortality of trade.
Great Britain Desperate.
The chief reason. it was declared here
today. why IL Is conceded in advance that
no radical change OF policy can be sx-
peCted to follow the American note is
the recognition by the United States and
other neutral governments of the fact
that Great Britain considers the situa-
ton desperate and is prepared to % to
much greater lengths in maintaining hcr
policy than are the neutral governments
prepared TO go in opposition to II.
The British government has repeatedly
made II clear that il has not the slightest
intention Of ABANDONING one iota Of her
advantage. 1t has been authoritatively |
stated that while England would en-
deavOr to impose AS few hardships as
possible upon neutral trade. the ncutraIs .
might as well accept the fact that there
would be no letting down Of the bars
a gainst any trade believed to be destined /.
10 help her enemies.
Officials here were most careful to state |
yesterday that the American note is in /,
no wise to he regarded as a threat /
against Great Britain No statement was !
made in the note. II was declared. which /
could possibly be construed as a threat
Or which could be used to force the 3
United States into a position more adj ,
vanced than il cares to take at this :
stage.
Exporters TO Blame.
Tho rnnreDa redDesS nf the I-Ditad States
government to be disagrceable about the /
at this stage was further .
yesterday when statements put .
forth in the highest official quarters !
placed part OF the blame for the harm
done neutral trade upon American eX-
porters who have been guilty of fraud |
N their manifests. 1t was stated at the .
White House that this government had !
been greatly embarrassed in dealing with .
these matters by the fact that many .
Instances had been discovered by the 4.
British authorities OF COntraband being |
concealed in cargOes represented to be
neutral.
Pigs OF copper, for example, have been
TOund concealed in bales OF cotton, which I
England is not treating as contraband.
4 ~"thRr American shipper complained
that his cargo Of meat was being I'M
= asOnably detained. Investigation prov
d that cOntraband had been concealed
n this cargo. Both at the White House
ind at the State Department II was point
d out that as long as Great Britain
continued to find evidence Of such prac-
ices. she would feel 1t absolutely nee
.ssary to treat innocent cargoes as sus-
,icious until she could satisfy herself by
earch that they were all that they were
represented to be.
Plays Into British Hands.
This officially inspired statement plays,
u course, exactly into the hands of the
British, and goes far toward making the
controversy in its present stage less
cute or dangerous. The British conten-
ion Is, and has been for months, that
it could only accept American mani
ests at their face values. most of the
roubIe would instantly be disposed of.
At the White House stress was laid
pom the claims for damages which
treat Britain will have to meet after the
Tar is over. as a result Of her treatment
I American commerce. On the other
and. II has long been known that Great
Britain would cneerfully foot vast bills
or damages after the war rather than
hange the policy giving rise to these
laims. II has been said by those in a
osition to know that the British feel
hat now, after five months Of the at
empt to "starve OUT Germany, some
esult may soon be looked for IL the
olicy is effectively maintained, whereas
1ere the bars to be lowered at this time,
II that the British feel they stand to
ain by II would instantly be lost.
Payments Not Satisfactory.
1t is the American contention, how
yer, that money payments can never
atisfy the American interests in the
that the losses to American
-ade are far greater than those that can
. claimed as the result of specific de-
entions Of cargoes. II is pointed out by
he American government that the re-
ressIon Of trade resulting from the fear
nat seizures and detentions are inevita-
lie at the hands Of Great Britain IL the
lost serious aspect Of the situation SO
an as thu IInfked States IN eoncerned