New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
Sets Forth Same Principles
Britain Laid Down in
Japanese War.
FULL TEXT SHOWS
TONE is PACIFIC
Washington Lawmakers
Pleased at Avoidance of
Belligerent Attitude.
PAGE AND GREY
IN CONFERENCE
Ambassador and Secretary Dis
cuss Situation-Early Reply
to America Promised.
'Fnm Ire Tribune Bur,su.l

fFrom TIE Tribune Burs,ul
Washington, Dec. 3i.-Secretsry Bryan
made public tonight the full text os
the recent note 10 the British govern
ment relative to interferences with
American shipping, following an under
standing with the Downing Street su-
thorities that coincident publication
should be made TO the British public.
The tenor of the note caused a pleas
ant surprise in view Of the original an
nouncement ss 20 its character put
forth last Tuesday morning. The note
is firm, straightforward statement OF
the American position, with regard to
the protection Of American high sea
commerce from any unusually or un-
necessarily harsh treatment at the
hands OF the British naval authorities,
and a reiterstion of the expressions
contained in previous specific complaints
against seizures and detentions since
the present war began, but IL contains
no utterance which may, in any sense,
be considered threat Of reprisal in
any form, nor any suggestion that SUBJ
sequent detentions shall not be toler-
ated. The document is eonsit cred mild,
pacific, friendly, and in no sense bel
licose, trueulent or peremptory.
In only two instances does language
appear in the note which may be
strained 20 indicate belligerent atti-
tude by the American government In
one case reference is made TO the fact
that the United States feels abundsntly
justified in seeking information with re-
gard to Great Britain's future course
and the manner in which that nation Z
intends to carry ont is policy, in or
der that the United States may de-
termine what steps are necessary 10
protect citizens engaged in foreign
trade from serious loss through ignor-
ance of the hazards 70 which their car
goes are exposed. There Is no threat
in this expression, but only an insist
ence on a further and clearer definition
Of Great Britain's position.
Hint That Feeling May Change.
The other instance is in the last
Of the note, which deprecates
sry threatened termination Of the
present entente between the two great
nations, saying:
an conclusion il should be i'm
pressed upon his majesty's govern
ment that the present condition o.
American trade with the neutral Euro
pean countries is such that, il il does
not improve, it may arouse feeling
contrary to that which has so long ex-
isted between American and British
peoples"
The paragraph asserts that ALREADY
il is becoming more and more the SUBJ
ject Of public criticism and complaint"
and il concludes with a further ref
erence 70 the present industrial de-
preston and directs the attention OF
the British government TO the present
effect upon American industrial life.
It was pointed out tonight by
prominent member OF the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations that tho
American note, in substance, was a
OF the note sent by tho
British government TO Russia in the
War. when the Russian
naval authorities had been engaged in
similar actions 20 those OF which ths
United States now complains against
the freedom of the seas 10 British
commerce en- route to neutral nations
near Japan. The Senator asserted that
the analogy was plain when the pur-
port OF the note was considered, and
that the language differed in so small a
degree as to make the two notes prsc-
tically the same so far ss he prinei-
Piles enunciated were concerned.
In the original announcement that
the note had been transmitted 20 the
British Foreign Office the assertion was
made that "the Washington govern
ment states that il cannot tolerate un-
due delays in examining them, or the
conveying Of such ships to British
ports for detailed examination" This
is one Of the discrepancies in the orig
inal statement which caused much con-
cern. Scrutiny OF the document fails
10 disclose either the language quoted
or anything suggestive Of an impa-
thence which might rise to the impor-
tanee of spirt OF intolerance.
One Statement Criticised.
Aside from the international char
aeter OF the aote, one statement put