The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-08
rAA Secretary Of state 10 Ambassador
W. N. Page.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

DEPARTMENT OF SIAIr'
u October 81. 1915.
Sin | desire that YOU present a note
- Sir Edward Grey in the sense OF the
following
~ The Government Of tho United
States has given careful consideration
10 your Exceilency's notes OF January
z. February 10, Jun 90. July 20. july
~ CO.. August Is. and to a note YER
bale OF tho British Embassy VI August
d. relating 10 restrictions upon American
by certain measures adopted
ny the British Government during the
present war. This Government has de-
layed answering the earlier ot these
notes IN the hope that the announced
purpose o, his Majesty's Government
TO exercise their bel .lgerent rights w,th
every possible consideration for the in
tereyt of n-utrals' and their intention
OF removing all causes OF aHoidaple
delay in dealing with American cargoes
and Of causing 'the least possible
amount OF inconvenience 10 persons en-
gagged In legitimate trade. az We'll as
their sassurances to the United states
Government that they would make 1t
their first aim to minimiz" the !ncon.
ven!ences' resulting from the measures
taken by the allied Governmental would
in practice not unjustinably infringe
upon the neutral rights Of American citi-
zcns engaged in trade and commerce.
u l., therefore. n matter ~ regret
that this hope has not been realized
hut that. IN the contrary, Interference
With American ships and cargoe> des.
tined In good faith 10 neutral ports and
lawful, entitled to proceed have become
5Hcreasingly NeXati0us, causing American
,hipow Ders and American merchants to
complain 10 this Government OF the fall
uVe TO take steps tn prevent nm exercise
81 beliigsrent power In contraventio
Of their Just rights.
May become Worse.
A. the measures complained OF pro-
.ceed directly from orders issued by thf
British Government. are executed by
british authorities, and arouse a reason
able apprehension that, II not resisted
they may he carried to an extent ever
more injurious to American interests
this Government directs the attention
Of has Maicsty's Government 20 IN
following considerations:
t2) Without commenting upon IN
statistics presented BY his Majesty
Government 20 show that the cxpor
trade Of tho United States has increslse'
In volume since the wal began furthe
than 20 point out that the comparatiV
values fail IL take into account the IN
creased price Of commodities resulting
from Il state OF war or to make any al
Iowance for the diminut!on In the vol
lnne OF trade which the neutral coun
tries in Europe previously had with tn
nations At war. a diminution whlc
compelled them TO buy In other markets
viii pass directly to the matters whic
constitute the specific complaints Of thi
Government,
80 First, The d%etentions Of Amer
can vessels and which hav
taken place since the opening OF hos
t!iIties have, II Is presumed. been pui
suant to tho enforcement Of the Order
IL Council. which were issued on A,
gust 90 and October 20. 1914, an
March ~, 1915. and relate to conts
band tyanIc and to tho intercepiiou {
eSade 10 and from Germany AN
Aud ia Hungary. In practice the
definitions have not been unifor,nI
based on proofs obtained AT Il
tilne Of seizure. bur many vessc
have been detained while search WI
made Tor evidence OF tho contrabar
character Of cargoes or OF an intentic
60 -evsde the non-!ntercourso measur