Milford chronicle., 1915-01-15
Note Comedies Principle Of
Shipping Protest
GONCURS IN VIEWS OF u S
England Declares Alleged Fraudulent
Shipping Practices Force Search Of
Ships.

The reply of Great Britain to the
protest of the United States against
British practices in interfering with
the neutral trade of this country was
made public at the state deartment.
In tone the British note is even
more friendly and in spirit quite as
frank as the American note. 1t is in
most respects convincing argument
in support of the British exercise OF
its control of the seas and seeks to
refute some of the contentious set
forth in the American protest.
Aside from the protest against the
methods rather than the principle of
the British policy, it was considered
that the strongest point in the Amer.
lean note was the contention that
Great Britain had violated her own
and accepted rule in her treatment Of
foodstuff as ABSOLUTE contraband when
consigned to neutral countries adjoin'
ing Germany.
The British reply to this contention
is probably the weakest point in the
reply. While it is maintained that
Great Britain has adhered to the ac-
cepted rule, and while it is declared
that it is her present intention to do
so, an excuse for departure from the
rule in future is sought in the allega-
tiOn that her enemies are violating
the accepted rules of civilization and
humanity.
As was expected, Great Britain
gives every assurance that could be
desired of conducting her operations
with the least possible harm to the
interests of the United States and
those of neutral trade in general and
borrowing the very language of the
American note with regard to trade
interest, asserts that only such inter
ference as "is necessary to protect
the beligerent's national safety, and
then only to the extent to which this
is necessary" it is warranted or in.
tended by Great Britain.
It is explained that this note is a
preliminary communication, and will
be followed by one dealing in more
detail with the issues raised.
Taking up the American contention
that British practices have caused a
depression in American trade by de.
nying American products their estab'
lished markets in neutral countries,
the British cite the American export
figures for November, 1913 and 1914.
Great Britain comedies that cotton
may have fallen off, but points out
that she cannot be blamed for that, as
she has practiced the intention of not
interfering with cotton as contraband
of war.
Replying to the American conten.
tions regarding copper, Great Britain
shows from American figures how
tremendously the imports of copper
by the neutral countries contiguous
to Germany and Austria have increas
ed since the war.
with such figures" the note de-
clares, "the presumption is very
strong that the bulk of copper con
signed by these countries has recent
ly been intended not for their own
use, but for that of beligerent who
cannot import it direct"
It is declared that four cargoes OF
copper and aluminium nominally con
signed to Sweden are known by the
British authorities to have been def
nitely consigned to Germany, and
hence are being detained for prize
court proceedings.
It is clearly stated in the note that
Great Britain believes that the Unit.
ed States must bear some Of the re-
sponsibility for delays for neutral
shipping because of its action in pro
hibiting the publication Of ships man
ifests until thirty days after they
have left port, the effect Of which has
been, the note declares, the exami-
nation and detention Of more ships
than would otherwise have been ne
cessary.