The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-12

said here that if it took five months to answer a note of 1500 words, which was the length of the first protest, it will naturally take 10 times as long to answer communication of 15.000 words. which Is about the length of the latest protest Although the new note leaves the av- craze EngliShman unworrfed as to conse- quences, there Is evident a feeling of ir- ritation and indignation, America is charged with ingratitude, and even with | trying to rob Britain of her priceless sea power. There is in England an attitude of mind concerning the United States which is at times closely akin to anti Americanism It shows itself at such times as these. Last January, just fol- lowing the first protest against interfer- ence with American trade, the feeling was particularly bitter. That protest came out of the clear blue sky, the censor having kept from the British people that America even had a grievance. America was bitterly assailed. The cry of "dol- lars" went up; America was accused of caring for money alone, and of disre- garding all the finer points about the war. This anti-American feeling made itself manifest to Americans in London
 in good many ways and sometimes it seems to be a pretty serious matter
 There have been similar outbreaks from time to time ever since and now there is one over this latest protest.
 It does not seem serious, however, as those which have preceded it. The feeling Is quite understandable. The average Englishman feels that he IS fighting now fight for civilization, as we'll as for his own existence. It IS America's fight, he believes, as much as it is his, or rather the benefits of German defeat will be as great approximately to Amer ica as to England. He doesn't claim to be fighting for America primarily and if asked him Ubof ynO Ol pd Io if Germany and America were at war he would doubtless say England would be neutral but he feels that America is prof1tng by this effort to rid the world of danger to all liberty-loving na- uons. In consequence he considers Amer lea is at least guilty Of gross ingratitude besides being too proud to fight in at- tempting to cripple England's sea power He also believes that America Is getting enormously rich out of the war
 WILL NOT ADMIT WRONG
 The Englishman is unwilling to admit that anything wrong has been done It is exceedinly curious that the present British government is being assailed on all sides for "muddling"- muddling the Dardanelles, for muddling the Ba- kans, for muddling everything they have touched-yet when it comes to a question of the admiralty and foreign office mud ding this vastly complicated question of controlling the commerce of the world no one here, so far as the press indi- cates will admit that anything has hap pened to American commerce which should not have happened. The foreign office is widely accused of mismanage- ment in the near east. Winston Church. ill, who was handling the blockade" for the admiralty when many of the most serious things happened to Amer ican commerce, is vigorously charged miEhan61fnp hn Int danelles adventures. Yet 1t appears from the comment in the press the admiralty and the foreign office have not erred in handling this question of commerce, the magnitude and complexity of which is scarcely equalled by any other feature of the war. The logic of the American facts Is disregarded, left by individuals and the press, rather conveniently, for the jurists to haggle about, and public feel Ing centers on the main point-that if England gives is to the United States she will be robbed of one of her most val uable weapons against her enemies, who, 1t is generally believed, are now feeling the pinch
 The force of President Wilson's protest is lessened not only by the trend of German-American negotiations, but also by the widespread belief that he Is actu- ated by other motives than those which appear on the surface. Firstly, it is be- ueVed that ne IS doing his best to prove that he Is thoroughly neutral, by first swatting Germany ana then England. Secondly, it is considered that he is play ing domestic politics, appealing to the German vote. Thirdly, it is thought that the latest note is merely a legal claim which will form the oasis of a future bill for great damages. If the President desires to procure genuine modification of Britains policy he will have to press the foreign office very hard-harder. for instance, than he has pressed Germany for far more serious orfenses. If he does the Anglo-American situation will become one of serious import