The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-29
j. 5. WILL DEMAND
MILLIONS IN DAMAGES
Great Britain Will Be Called
Upon to Pay for Holding Up
Shipping.
Continued from First Page)

4 SOAGllUc0 from FlFSI F1ScD
chances are that IL England consents
TO abide by the decision OF this tri-
bunal, the chances are that she will
have to. pay an enormous indemnity to
American shippers.
The President stated that the great
embarrassment to the Government. in
dealing with this whole matter, Is that
some shippers have concealed contra
band under cargoes of non-contraband
articles. for example, under a cargo of
cotton. So long as there are any in
stances OF this kind suspicion Is cast
upon every shipment and all carsoes
are liable to doubt and to search. This
Government can deal confidently with
the subject only IL supported by abso-
lutey honest manifests.
There is the President sverred. no
question OF treaty violation involved in
the discussion, nor does the discussion
approach: the aspects OF a hostile con-
troversy. At the same time he told call
ers quite frankly that what the United
States has set forth in this note to
Great Britain represents the final po-
sition Of this country.
While France has adopted similar
regulations TO those % England regard
ing the right Of beiiigerent to inter-
fere with neutral shipping, the fact that
highlands varships alone have been
harassang American commerce, limits
nation. And from the standpoint Of
President Wilson there is no room for
further debate as TO the rights in the
case.
Upsets Former Policy.
England, he declared emphatically, has
in all previous wars where she has
remained neutral, held TO the position
which the United States now contends
In ha
present war she finds il to her convent
ence to upset her former policy. has she
seen n TO ignore the rights OF tho
United States.
And the United States has been pa
tlent. Time after time have American
ships, flying American colors, and sail
Ing for neutral ports been rudely held
UP, their carsoes and papers searched,
and the ships themselves seized and
carried to British ports to await the
courts as TO whether the vessels shall
be- permitted to proceed to their dcsti-
nations. And time after time has tho
United States protested While in some
cases Great Britain has released these
vessles she has never conceded that
the United States has any just grounds
for complaint against her general tao
tics.
In other cases she has forced the yes
sells TO give up their cargoes before
suspicion that these cergoes were ulti-
nostely intended for delivery to the
Germans. Patiently has the United
States adopted various suggestions by
Great Britain in order to insure greater
freedom to American commerce, only
10 have Great Britain suddenly and
arbitrarily decide to change her mind
and. ignore the guarantees which she
herself proposed Il
Suspicious In An Dealings.
Suspicion has been the keynote OF her |
that every article sail |
ing from the United States for any Eu- |
ropesn port. other than one in Eng |
land. France, OF Russia, has been in |
tended for ultimate use by the German |
armies. o. conceals within its wrap |
pings ccntrabsnd goods. While in some
cases cotton bales have been found to |
contain eoatraband copper bars. such |
the offenders would be violating the |
Avs OF this country as well as the reg |
ulations- OF the triple entente. And, de- /
ci2res the American note emphatically,
mere suspicion is not justiiable warrant /
for the high-handed practices Of Great /
Britain. Upon the belliserent which ar
rests q cargo, and not upon the neu-
Iral shipper, contends the note must /
the burden Of proof lie.
England has not replied. Although \
President Wilson was under the i'm
preston this morning that the note had
been sent Saturday. il seems actually |
70 have been delivered by United States
Walter II. Page at London
70 Sir Edward Grey late yesterday. Il
. assumed that the British foreign
prepare an answer. inasmuch as there
8 nothing contained In the American
lote suggesting an uitimatum. But
while the United States. the President |
stated. is acting entirely alone in the |
natter. the reply OF Great Britain VIII
De OF common interest to the neutral
shipping nations of the Western Henri
'Dhere.
Preferred Te Act Alone.
At one time it was seriously proposed
" some OF the leading powers OF
south America that the neutral nations
IN this side OF the globe should get
oEether and present as their common
demand on Great Britain
81 a greater respect toward neutral
'3Ss. In line with its traditional policy.
io"eyer. the United States preferred
o act alone.
In tho meantime a cry has gone I'D
throughout the United States. not
lone from shippers and manufacturers.
,ut from men ia the mines and fac
cries, against the fasrant manner In
which Great Britain, has crippled Ameri-
an trade In Montana alone 1000
nen are out Of employment because
he high-handed seizure BY GreaS. Brit
In OF copper shipments from this coun-
y; has stineS the copper export trade,
nd forced mines to shut down.
Out Of this and because OF this, there
3 no mistskinE the fact that there has
ecently grown UP a revulsion OF feeling
Ities the declaration in the note TO
treat Britain that popular Keeling has
zen aroused on the subject to such
n extent that the American Govern
lent feels compelled 70 ask for definite
lformation as 20 Great obtains at ,
.tude.