Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-11
Text of British Reply to U. S.
Protest Against Trade Hindrdnce

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1o-The reply OF
the British government to the not OF
protest by the United states against in
reference with American trade by Brit
tish warships. made public today, Is as
follows:
The British secretary OF state for
foreign affairs 60 the American ambas-
sador:
Foreign office. January :, 1915.
Your excellency:
81 have the honor 20 acknowledge re-
ceipt OF your note OF December q.
1T being carefully examined and tho
points raised In Il arc receiving consid-
Grafton as the result Of which reply shall
be addressed to your excellency. Deal
ing in detail with the issues raised and
the points to which the United States
government has drawn attention. This
consideration and the preparation Of the
reply will necessarily require some time,
and therefore desire 10 send without
further delay some preliminary observa-
tons. which, WILL I trust, help TO clear
the ground and remove some misconcep-
tons that seem 10 exist Let me say at
once that we entirely recognize the most
friendly spirit referred 20 by your excel
lency and that we desire TO reply In the
same spirit and in the belief that. as
your oxcellency states frankness will best
serve the continuance OF cordial relations
between the two countries.
Principle COncurred In.
His majesty's government cordially
concur In the principle enunciated by
- -
that beligerent. In dealing with trade
between eutrals. should not interfere un-
less such interference Is necessary 10
protect the belllgerents national safety
and then only to the extent 20 which
this is necessary. We shall endeavor 70
keep our action within the limits OF this
principle. on the understanding that II
admits our right 10 interfere when such
interference, is not with bona fide' trade
between the United states and another
neutral country but with trade in con-
traband destined for tho enemy's coun-
try, and we are ready whenever cur ac-
ton may unintentionally exceed this prin-
cipie. 70 make redress.
I'VE think that much misconcoptfon
exists as to the extent to which we have
In practice interferrcd with trade Your
excellency's note seems 20 hold his ma |
jestys government responsible for the |
present condition Of trade with neutral |
and It Is stated that. though |
the action OF HIS majestys government. |
The products OF the great industries Of |
the United states have been denied long |
established markets I'm European coun- |
tires. which. though neutral, are none
10 the scat OF war
Is Britain 90 BIamef
such result Is far from being the in |
tention Of his majesty's government. and
they would exceedingly regret that II |
should be due 70 their action. have |
been unable TO obtain complete or con-
elusive figures showing what the state /
81 trade with these neutral countries has
been recently and can therefore. only |
ask that further consideration should be |
given TO the question whether United |
States trade with these neutral countries
has been so seriously affected. The only |
figures IA to the total volume OF trade
that have seen are those from the port |
81 New York for the month OF November.
and they are as follows. compared with |
the month NJ Novemher Ig1a. t'N