Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-01
BRYAN DENIES SHIP
BILL Anglers LION
Secretary Asserts Report Grey Told
o. s. Buying Teuton Ships
Unneutral is Untrue.
MUCH DISCUSSION in CAPTTAL

WASHINGTON, Jan a1.-Dipiomatic
phases Of the proposed purchase OF ships
by tho United States government we're
Widely discussed today as a result OF the
publication Of a report that Sir Edward
Grey had Informed the state department
that such purchases II including German
or Austrian ships, would be regarded as
constituting an unneutral act.
Il was stated positively at the state
department as well a. the British en-
bsssy that no communication. official or
otherwise, on the subject had been re-
ceived from Sir Edward. Not only has
tho American government not asked or
received the formal views Of Great Brit
ain. but no expressions OF an official
character have come from either Russia
or France.
Not ParnIIeI Cases.
References have been made to the sub
3ect OF transfers Of flag in diplomatic
correspondence over the steamship Dacia
and previously over the BrindiiIa. but
these are held by the State department
not TO be parallel. cases as they involve
transactions between private individuals
whereas the BIZ pending In the senate
would make the United states govern
ynent a party to any purchase Of vessels
made under H.
Inasmuch as the state department holds
that what might have been said In the
Dacia and BrindiIia cases does not apply
10 government purchases. Majority
Leader Underwood IN the house on behalf
Of the state department denies that the
pending ship bill had been the subject OF
official Communication betwsen the
washington government and Great
Britain.
views OF Brftfsh Embassy.
At the British embassy the view was
volunteered that since the pending bill
had not yet passed. negotiations would
not be proper, aud that even n the meas
ure we're enacted there would be no
reasoil to suppose that the United states
rovernuent. exercising the powers desig-
mated BY the legislation, would commit
any unneutral act.
II was stated Anthorftativeiy, however.
that the British Ambassador had made Il
clear in recent conversation with Sec
rotary Bryan what under certain circum-
stances would be she view OF the British
eoveInment. pointing out incidentally
that while Eneland In the past had recog-
mixed some transfers Of flag during war
as legal. there was no doubt IN his mind
Of The opposition OF Russia ana France,
what the hypothetical circumstances
are 10 which the British ambassador re-
ferred havp not beon disclosed, but they
are presumed TO relate 10 any general or.
Wholesale release OF German and Aus
trim ships now docked In American
ports. such q step high officials of the
American government declared was not
.I.t I.uasa NOT 4ya
decided yet whether Il even Will be neoes-.
sary 10 purchase any belliserent vessels
a obtain at reasonable price shipa TO
carry American products.
nistinetion Drawn.
Althoueh the British ambassador dis
cissed the subject orally with Secretary
Bryan recently. distinction was drawn
al the embassy today between his par
sonal Views and any official expression
by direction OF hss government. since
his opinion was delivered in an Off
clal way the State department has no
record OF Il. and officials do not regard
any Of the informal remarks made thus
NAL communication.
The right Of the United States govern
inent 10 purchase vessels hitherto under
'NtIt8|AA A0AANA|
officials at the department, who have
made an exhaustive study OF prooodents
Against the position understood 20 be held
BY Great Britain. Frenco ana Russia. It
was pointed out by administration Off
elsis that even II the Declaration OF Lon
dcn's provisions were construed as pro-
Eibltng ali transfers OF flag after the
outbreak Of hcstilities. which - some
thing the American delesates at the oon-
ference dld not and the State department
does not now admit. the United States
IL not bound BY the declaration. because
article 6 OF this declaration says;
The provisions OF the present dcclar-
cannot be separated
Kat IN Force ~ an. 81
lnasmuclE ~ the British order in coun-
eli OF last October accepts some Of the
provisions OF the Declaration Of London
and mobiles others and that as that
action received the approval, also OF
France and Russia. the United States
does not regard any part OF the declar-
alton 70 Be now IN force, but ~ beins
guided BY previous principles OF inter-
rational law
To oppose the claim that France has
never EttoHnlAfu thAAHHa an fD8iatf1a
officials Of the state department point 20
the rules Issued by the French minister
u marines 10 The French navy during
the Franco-Prussian war. when COM
menders were instructed 70 inquire into
whether OF not each transfer Of llaG
WAS bona fide Before The Declaration
OF I-ondon was drafted. England, too. 4
is claimed, held transfers az legal whers
there WAS no question as 70 the bona