The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-01-11
BRITAIN DEFENDS
OSEARCH AT SEA
AS NECESSARY
Shipments to Adjoining Coun ries
Intended for Her Enemies
INCREASE IN AMERICAN EXPORTS
Fiuures Quoted to Show that Our
Trade Has Not Been Seriously
Hampered.

Washington, Jan. 11.-Great Brit
aims preliminary reply to the note
from the United States government,
requesting an improvement in the
treatment OF American commerce by
the British fleet, was made public at
Washington and in London yesterday
by mutual agreement between the
state department and the British
cation concurs in the view of the
United States that commerce be-
tween neutral nations should be in
terfered with only when imperatively
ington government construed it as con
cedng that the principles expressed
by the American note were just and
upheld by the previously accepted us
ages of international law The only
formal comment made last night was
contained in brief statement issued
by Secretary Bryan, who said
This answer being preliminary and
not being intended as a complete re-
ply. we Will postpone comment until
the full answer is received"
While they are generally reserved
in their comment, it may be stated
authoritatiyely that high officials of
the United States government regard
the toneaafuthe note as entirely friend
ly and tfy lover. that the
discussie sFfcn will follow it will
be carried on in the same vein with
i purpose on the iesF4 of both coun-
tries to reach satisfactory under
standing. The admission by Great
Britain of one of the chief points in
the American note that the relations
between neutrals were those OF nor
NAL times of peace-and not of war
was gratifying to officials who be-
lieyed that the controversy would
now resolve itself into frank dis
cussion of what were the actual
necessities of the case which impel
by a belligerent when
that the ultimate destina-
ton of a neutral cargo is belligerent
territory.
The statistics brought forth to
show that commerce between the
United States and neutral countries
to Germany and Austria
had increased materially since the
of the war were regarded
in Washington as misleading 1t was
pointed out that in view of the break
ing down of the normal routes of
commerce with Germany and Austria,
many noncontraband products had
been shipped through neutral coun-
tries. Similarly the neutral countries
which previously had obtained much
Of their supplies from belligerents
were now importing from the United
States
As to the increase in shipments of
copper to Italy, it was pointed out
that the Italian ambassador has al
ready explained that Italy, which had
previously obtained copper from Ger
many and Austria for her manufac-
lures. now was forced to import from
the United States because of the en-
barge on expectation which the bel |
ligerents themselves had imposed. |
The American government contends,
that if some copper has
reached the belligerents through neu-
trail countries it is the duty of the |
British to make more effective ar
with those neutral coun-
tries.
The admission OF Great Britain |
hat as to foodstuffs and conditional |
,ontraband Lord Salisbury's doctrine, |
luoted in the American note, would |
De followed in practice by the British, |
'oodstuffs being held up only when |
destined to an enemy force also was
pleasing to American officials.
There is every reason to believe |
hat the United States will not accept |
he view of great Britain that car
goes must be taken into port for ex-
ended examination. While statistics |
advanced show that only 40 cargoes
)ut of 773 have actually gotten into
he puize courts, officials at Washing |
on note that no mention is made in |
he British note of the great number |
If American cargoes detained and |
released 1t was not |
he loss already suffered by Ameri- |
IAN commerce which brought forth |
he American note, but the desire to |
prevent commerce in the future |
rom being mistreated. The United |
States also laid stress on the effect
which the detentions already made |