The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-20
Spring-Rice Says SINNERS
Charges Are Upset by
Official Data.
AMERICAN COMMERCE
SHOOTING FAR AHEAD
II Is Supplanting That of
Belligerent Countries.
He Declares.

w.sutSeroS, Dee 19.-Sir Arthur
cecil Spring- Rice. the British Ambas-
ssdor. has written letter to Secretary
lansing denying the charge that British
,-,d. has profited by the British blockade
orders at the expense Of American mer-
r,,ut. and exporters The British Am
ss,xador submits detailed figures to
show that American foreign trade. apart
f,om the traffic In war munitions, has
increased phenomenally.
The communication. which was made
public tonight by the British Embassy.
Vas igned to answer charges made by
sobert +. skinner. United States Consul.
General at London. IN IA commerce re-
iort on British trade, published last
August. In this report Mr.. skinner said:
1T continues to he the case that many
classes OF goods. the expectation OF
yh,ch nom the United States 20 neutral
Countries ia attended with great dill
,Il'y and hazards, are going forward
freely from Great Britain to the same
countries and In some cases In largely in
creased quantities"
senator Uoke smith OF Georgia and
other advocates OF stricter policy and
4eprisals against Great Britain becaus.
ot her orders in council and other block
ads restrictions have used the skinner
repor. as basis for the charges that
England Is using her war against Ger
man commerce as cloak TO conceal her
attacks on American trade.
Published ny Oversight.
rAe skinner report stirred up great
ya.li, In. h.
General and for time his usefulness
was threatened. The repor, was in
tended as confidential, but through an
oversight was published.
According to Ambassador Spring
Rice Consul-General skinner was evil
IDENTIFY not In possession OF the figures
OF the United States Department OF Com
merce when he made his report There
fore tho Ambassador encloses In his let
Ter to Mr. Lansing detailed summaries
OF these figures.
While admitting thai there might have
been some slight increase in kri ish ex-
ports the amount involved, the British
Arnba ssador contends. has been ''iniini-
,esmai' when compared with the volume
Of American trade in the same articles.
The Ambassador explains that the
Agures are not submitted 'in a contro-
- yersal spirit. but merely 10 correct an
IMPRESSION which appears 20 have arisen
,rom an impe RECT appreciation o; the
;acts"
Sir Arthur adds that British trade ha.
suffered more from the emha rgo-s on eN-
port. imposed hy the necessities OF the
var than has American trade from
British measures in restriction of the
--aae between neutral countries and Ger
many. American trade, 50 Great Britain
avs Is supplanting that of the Bel
Iserert Powers OF Europe in South
America, the Far East ami even in the
asutgsl countries of Europe.
The AmbassndOr's Letter.
p Is the Ambassadors communi-
Gator.
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WAsHINoroN. December II.
'EAE Mn. SECRETARY: statements
have lvsn widely circulated IN this coun-
~ 20 the effect that the trade OF the
lifted states has greatly suffered ow-
re 70 the restrictive measures taken
" 'ie Allies against German commerce
tri more especially that British mer-
chants and shippers are prohting
.r,a,iy By the war measures OF the Brit
N Government to the detriment OF
American trade.
A. these statements seem 20 be large:
based upon Il report cmanating from
;
rot Rad access TO the Official statistics
4 the United states Government
,hnk Il may be useful, in the interest
o. fair and Just appreciation OF the
; facts 'wtlch ] am sure Is your obJect)
Z enclose a memorandum on the sub
's,' ~ these assertions which Is sup
g.eneUiary 70 that already communi'
ca.-i . you by my Government
!. IS not 10 be expected that the United
>Fut - ~ oil. tttf n a1.n
such world calamity IA the present
var, and IN the case of the American
'.y., war 4 viii he In your recollection
iha, tar Immediate effect on France anc
tagand was an unparalleled industria
crisis which resulted in untold suiferini
% the working classes OF those countries
hundreds OF thousands being rendered
'bsoiI'ely destitute. II II satisfactory
70 note from the recently published re
iHr. ut the secretary Of the Treisur'
that wholly auart from war orders TIN
Adlstrial situation IN this country Il
on hrm. steady and healthy basis.
Calls Attention 10 Figures.
W. regard to the specific accusa
-" agtlns' ny Government that Will
American trade with neutral countrie
AS Dr,r diniu.,hcd British merchant
have pruNr-j by n" war measures T.
.arroas. their export trade. beg To rec
oaurud t. your notice the figures give
in 'uo accompanying report, based o
rr oNi"!al returns Of American trad
pulls ed by yuur Government. YO
vii sre that while British trade, whic
las suffered greatly in its general vol
Nr", ha- Increased 10 a slight eXten
n certain branches, American trade ha
Increased TO a vastly greater extent.
T. may no opposite to point out tina
br sh trade does not compete wit
Amer an trade In the neutral countrie
~ f.urrpc. as the produces Of AmeriC
teni 10 those countries are Of who'll
different nature from those cxporte
non Great Britain.
IL me cases. which are eXplaine
- dettl IN the memorandum, thel
'as been an increase of the cNpOr
fpa Lugland. but the amount involve
hes been inhniteslmal AS compared vii
w.. yuum. o: American trade In q
SAM 4rticlcs. and the Increase OF n
sN!nr,s from England IL explained |
b. dental muses. which involved no 10
N NE American exporter,
! need only mention the case of CO
f0NHNurd oI TOrHN Page. E