Evening star., 1915-01-01
Text of U. S. Protest Against
Interference With Com
merCe Made Public.
DANGER OF UNFRIENDLY
FEELING is MADE PLAIN
Note Insists on Early Change of
Practices Which Hinder
American Trade.

BY mutual agreement between the
State Department and the British for
eign office, the full text of the note
sent by the United States to Great
Britain insisting on an early improve
ment in the treatment of American
commerce by the British fleet. was
made public here last night. The full
text follows:
The Secretary of State to the Ameri-
can Amba assador at London:
Department of State,
washington. December IS, 1914.
"The present condition of American
foreign trade resulting from the fire.
quent seizures and detentions of Ameci-
can cargoes destined to neutral Euro
pean ports has become so serious as to
require candid statement of the views
of this government in order that the
British government may be fully in
formed as to the attitude of the United
States toward the policy which has
been pursued by the British authori-
ties during the present war.
Done in Friendly Spirit.
"You will, therefore, communicate the
following to his majesty's principal
secretary of state for foreign affairs,
but in doing so you will assure him
that it is done in the most friendly
spirit and in the belief that frank
ness will better serve the continuance
of cordial relations between the two
countries than silence, which may pc
misconstrued into acqulescence IN
course of conduct which this govern
ment cannot but consider to be an IN
fringement upon the rights OF Amefl-
can citizens.
Concern Has Grown.
"The government of the Unietd States
has viewed with growing concern the
large number of vessels laden with
American goods destined to neutral
ports in Europe which have been seized
on the high seas, taken into British
ports and detained sometimes for weeks
by the British authorities. During the
early days of the war this government
assumed that the policy adopted by the
British government was due TO the IN
expected outbreak of hostilltles and the
vent contraband from reaching the
enemy For this reason it was not DIS
posed to judge this policy harshly or
protest it vigorously. although II was
manifestly very injurious to American
trade with the neutral countries of Eu-
rope This government, relying confl-
IDENTIFY upon the high regard which
Great Britain has so often exhibited in
the past for the rights of other nations,
confidently awaited amendment of a
course of action which denied to neu-
trail commerce the freedom to which it
was entitled by the law of the nations.
Expectation Seemed Assured.
This expectation seemed to be rem
dered the more assured by the state
ment of the foreign Office early in No
vember that the British government
were satisfied with guarantees offered
by the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish
governments as to -exportation of
contraband goods when consigned to
named persons in the territories of
those governments, and that orders had
been given to the British feet and Gus
toms authorities to restrict interfer-
ence with neutral vessels carrying such
cargoes so consigned to verification of
ships papers and cargoeS.
1T is, therefore, matter of deep
regret that. though nearly five months
have passed since the war began, the
British government have not mate
rally changed their policy and do not
treat less vigorously ships and cargoes
passing between neutral ports in the
peaceful pursuit of lawful commerce,
which belligerents should protect
rather than interrupt.
Freedom Still Awaited.
"The greater freedom from detention
and seizure which was confidently ex-
pected to result from consigning ship
ments to definite consignees, rather
than to order,' is still awaited.
1T is needless to point out to his
majesty's government. usually the
champion of the freedom of the seas
and the rights of trade, that peace.
not war, is the normal relation between
nations, and that the commerce be-
tween countries which are. not bellig-
erents should not be interfered with by
those at war, unless such Interference
is manifestly an imperative necessity
to protect their national safety. and
then only to the extent that it is a
necessity.
"It is with no lack of appreciation
of the MON mentouS nature of the pres
ent struggle in which Great Britain
is engaged, and with no selfish desire
TO gain undue commercial advantage
that this government is reluctantly
forced to the conclusion that the pres
ent policy of his majesty's government
toward neutral ships and cargoes ex-
ceeds the manifest necessity of bel
igerent and constitutes restrictions
upon the rights of American citizens
by the rules of international law or re.
| quired under the principle of self
preservation.
Basis of Complaint.
| The government of the United State:
does not intend at this time to discus.
| the propriety of including certain
articles in the lists of absolute anc
conditional contraband which have
| been proclaimed by his majesty. Oper
| to objection as some of these seem tt
| this government, the chief ground Of
present complaint is the treatment o.
cargoes of both classes of articles wher
| bound to neutral ports.
| articles listed as absolute contra
| band, shipped from the United State.
and consigned to neutral countries, ha u
| been seized and detained on the grount
that the countries to which they were
destined have not prohibited the ex
portation of such articles.
| "Cnwarranted as such detention,
| are, in the opinion of this government
! American exporters are further per
picked by the apparent indecision o
the British authorities in applying thei
| own rules to neutral cargoes.
Example Is Cited.