Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-18
ENGLAND DEFENDS
HER SEA POLICY
MAKES EXTENDED REPLY TO
UNITED STATES NOTE OF
PROTEST.
SHIFTS BLAME FOR
SHIFTS BLAME FOR
HAMPERiNG OF COMMERCE
Intimates United States Is Suffering
From Business Depression Because
Of Lack Of Ships to Transport Pro-
ducts-Attention Called to Loss Of
Neutral Ships by Mines.

second ana complete reply TO the
American note of protest, which on
Dec. % last asked for an early i'm
provement in the treatment of Ameri-
can commerce by the British fleet, was
made public last night by mutual
agreement between the state depart
ment and the British foreign office.
The note addressed to Ambassador
Page by Sir Edward Grey, under date
Of Feb. 10, denies that the depression
in American industries is due to the
activity of the British fleet, and sug-
gests among other causes the shortage
Of shipping facilities, the consequent
diminution of cotton trade and the de-
struction by submarine mines laid by
the enemy indiScriminately," of many
neutral vessels.
After giving a lengthy and detailed
answer to the charge that American
ships and cargoes were being unduly
detained, the communication contains
in it's concluding paragraphs the an
nouncement that Great Britain in :
tends to take retaliatory measures
against the German submarine cam
paign against enemy ships but does
not reveal their nature.
No Clear Division.
Conceding that foodstuffs intended
for the civil population of a country
are not contraband, the British gov
eminent points out that lin any coun-
try in which there exists such ire
mendous organization for war as now
obtains in Germany, there is no clear
division between these whom the gov
eminent is responsible for feeding and
those whom it is not.
TT will still be our endeavor," says
the final paragraph, ito avoid injury
and loss to neutrals, but the an
nouncement by the German govern
ment Of their intention to sink mer-
chant vessels and their cargoes with
out verifcation Of their nationality
or character and without making any
provision for the safety Of non-com-
blatant crews or giving them chance
of saving their lives has made it neces
sary for his majesty's government
to consider what measures they
should adopt to protect their inter-
ests.
ut is impossible for one belligerent
to depart from rules and precedents
and for the other to remain bound by
them"
Note 10 10000 Words Long.
Supplementing the preliminary re-
ply of several weeks ago, the new,
note is about 10000 words long and
includes not only statistical argu-
ment but further discussion of the
legal principles involved.
Foremost, however, is the denial Of
the British government that the de-
preston in American industries re-
ferred to in the American note was
due to the alleged interference of the
British fleet with American COM
merce, or 1.-The result Of any exercise
of belligerent rights.
Since the presentation of the pre-
Iiminary note, Sir Edward states that
he has had further opportunity Of
examining into the trade statistics OF
the United States as embodied in the
customs returns, in order to see
whether the belligerent action OF
Great Britain has been in any way
the cause of the trade depression
which your excellency Ambassador
Page) describes as existing in the
United States and also whether the
seizures Of vessels or cargoes which
have been made by the British navy
have inflicted any loss on American
owners for which our existing ma
chinery provides no means of redress"
Reviews British Methods.
'In setting out the results of my
investigation writes the British Sec
rotary, II think it well to take the OPP
portunity of giving n general review
of the methods employed by ms
majesty's government to intercept
contraband trade with the enemy. or
their consistency with the admitted
right Of belligerent to intercept such
trade, and also to the extent to which
they have endeavored to meet the. rep
reservations ard complaints from time
to time addressed to them in behalf OF
the United States government.
Toward the close of your note OF
Dec. %, your eXcellency described the
situation produced by the action Of
Great Britain as a pitiful one to the
commercial interests Of the United
States and said that many great in
dustries of the country were suffering
because their products were denied
long established markets in neutral
European countries contiguous to the
nations at war.
Any War Upsets Commerce.
1T Is unfortunately true tnaC IN
these days, when trade and finance are
any war, particularly
war of any magnitude, must result in
a grievous dislocation of commerce, in
Guiding that of the nations which take
no part in the war.
"Your excellency will realize that in
this tremendous struggle, for the out
break of which Great Britain Is in no
way responsible, 1t is impossible for
the trade of any country to escape all
injury and loss, but for such his
majesty's government are not to blame.
II do not understand the paragraph
which I have quoted from your excel
lency's note as referring to these in.
direct consequences OF the state of war.
but to the more proximite and direct
effect of our belligerent action in deal
ing with neutral ships and cargoes on
tho high seas.
Such action has been limited to ves-
sells on their way to enemy ports or
ports In neutral countries adjacent to
the theaters OF war, because it is only
thru such ports that the enemy intro
iuce the supplies which he requires for
on the war. .
EIGHT Into Prize Court.
SIR Edward then points out that only
eight out OF IT'S ships sailing from the