The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-28
Sir Cecil Spring Rice Sends Lengthy Note in Defense of England's Marine Policy.

Policy.
 washington. Dec. 2s-Further ar EumenEs szd statistics in support of --eat Britain-s 51essial of statements that her merchants are profiting, by British war restrictions upon com G--ce at the expense of American =s7s5le have been submitted to the State a@srsartnent by the British Embassy In memorandum which was made public today with a letter of trans initial to Secretary Lansing from Sir Cecil Sprfng-Rice, the Ambassador
 The memorandum, which is supple Inentary to a note on the same sub ject handed Ambassador Page last summer by the London Foreign Of Ice reiterates the assertion that in- creases in British trade with neutral countries have been infiniteSimal compared with the growth of similar American trade It draws particular attendnn to figures showing that the increase In exports from the port of New York to the Scandinavian coun- tries during the first thirteen months of the war exactly balanced the falling off of New Yurkes exports to Ger many
 report of the Secretary of the Treasury Is quoted to prove that the war has improved rather than in-
 
 The Ambassadors letter fo1Iows:-
 Dear Mr. Secretary--
 'sStateEnents have been widely cir cuIated in this country to the effect that the trade of the United States has greatly suffered owing to the restrictive measures taken by the AL lies against German commerce and more especially that British merchant and shippers are profiting greatly by the war measures iof the British gov- ernment to the detriment of American
 ..As These statements seem to be largely based upon a report emanaf- ing from an officer of your Depart ment who had not had access to the official statistics of the United States Government, think it may be use fuI, in the interest of a fair and just appreciation of the facts (which I am sure is your ebject1 if I enclose a memorandum on the subject of these assertion which is supplementary to that already communicated to you by my government
 ssIt is not to be expected that the United States should be wholly un- touched by such a world calamity as the present war; and in the case of the American Civil War 1t will be in your recollection that the imm ediate ' effect on France and England was an unparalleled industrial crisis which resulted in untold suffering to the working classes ofN those countries, hundreds of thousands being render cd absolutely destitute. It is satis- factory to note from the recently pub Hshed report Of the 9ecretarEs ef sHl7e Treasury that wholly apart frornkw war orders. the industrial situation in this country is on a firm, steady and healthy basis. < sssl.s ss
 setion against my government that while American trade with neutral countries has been diminished, Britl ish merchants have proffted tbye the war measures to increase their ex- port trade, I beg to recommend to your notice the figures given in the Accompanying report based on the of nciaI returns of American trade pub Hshed by your government You will see that while British trade which has suffered greatly in it's general volume has increased to a slight extent in certain branches. American trade has increased to vastly greater extent.
 tsIt may be opposite to point out that British trade does not compete with American trade in the neutral of Anerica, sent to those countries are of a wholly different nature from Chose exported from Great Britain.
 tTa some cases. which are explain ed in detail in the memorandum there ha8 been an increase of the exports
 
 ed has been infinifesiTna1 as compar- cd with the volume of American trade in the same articles, and the increase of the exports from England is ex- plained by accidental causes which ir1- Voived no I1ossf to the American ex- porter I needi only mention the case of cotton The export from England of American cotton increased during the first seven months of the year by 114,000 bales, largely owing to cot a +I- Is17 government in consequence of mis- appreh ension as to the ownership and released to the Swedish consignees. Tn the same months the total exports from America increased by 2.300,000 bales
 T trust that 1t will not be found araiss that ask your consideration of the enclosed memorandum which is not communicated in a controversial spirit but nemerly in order to correct an impression which appears to have arisen from an imperfect appreciation of the facts.
 T need only add in conclusion that if therea comes to the knowledge of your department any specific i'm stance fin which the British govern T11eTif has made use of their restrict tive trade measures for the purpose of unfairly discriminating between British and AEnerican trade, you will bring the facts to the knowledge of my government in order that they may cause enduiry and remedy such injustice
 sI am, dear MT. Secretary,
 ssYours sincerely,
 stCECIL SPRTNG-RICE-'' ''
 The memorandum, in part, follows.
 ssThe attention of His Britannic Matestyss Embassy has been drawn suI General in London on the sub feet of British trade in July, which