The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-30
British Note Warns u. S.
MOI to Bury hterned Ships
Bryan Told Officially Purchase of German Vessels Would
BE Regarded as Unneutral-All Ni@hl
Senate FilibuStcr

WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.-ln Washing
ton despatch 10 Tns ST.; yesterday !;
was asserted that the United States
would become involved In serious con-
trovrrsy with Great Britain, France ana
Russia il IL purchased and operated n
termed German and Austrian vessels, az
proposed under the pending ship pue-
chase bill.
THE Sun correspondent Is now abe %
state that Great Britain has given off,
clal notice that It would regard such \
step By this Government as an unncu-
trail act. \ written statement to this
cftec, Is now in the possession OF Secre-
lary Of State Bryan and has been in his
hands for ten days.
Furthermore similar views in regard
TO the reported intention of the Admin
istration to purchase informed vessels
are held by France and Russia.
Among those who are aware Of these
facts there Is great surprise at the re-
peated impressions conveyed by officials
that the State Department has had no
particular reason to believe that Great
Britain or any OF her allies would refuse
to recognize the validity of the taking
over of the informed ships and their
operation in trade.
Great Britain, as the nation with which
the United States has had occasion mos,
frequently to discuss maritime questions
during tho war, has taken the lead IN
conveying to the United states warning
aS TO the view which the Allies Will fak"
OF the contemplated action under the
pending Legislation
Sir Edward Grey has gone Out of his
way to inform Secretary Bryan that the
British Government would not look with
complnisancc on the purchase OF he IN
.erned ships by this Government.
/ In the British communication on TINS
subject Sir Edward has Indicated that a
mere commercial transaction such as IN
VOWED IN tho DacIa case l. M; to he
confused with the larger issue of a gem
cral release OF German and Austrian YES
sells through their purchase by a Govern
mcnt.
He goes much further and suggests
that the purchase OF ships would he IN
timately related to the question Of metz
trllity. He asserts the British view that
II a neutral Power ntcrvened in the course
OF a war with the result OF relieving one
OF the military action OF the other bel
4 llgerent, such intervention In erect Is or
an unneutral character
The British communication did not mem
ton the United States Government or the
pending ship purchase bill specifically, but
its purpose and application were clear.
In other words, aside from the queS-
lions Of international law invoVed In the
situation which competent authorities ad-
nit are perpleXing, the British Govern
ment Is prepared to hold that the United
states has committed an unneutral act II
II turns out on the seas under the Ameri-
can nag the German and Austrian Yes
sells now pcnncd in American ports ~ the
resur Of British superiority on the w"er.
Purchase and operation OF these ships
in the view of the British Government
would be an act offsetting an advantage
which the British have won In the war
. and would be resented as such by his
Majestys Government
This view is shared by the French Gov
eminent France has not had occasion &c
discuss the issue with the United States
but early In the war 1t took action quite
as unmstakable in rs meaning as that
OF Great Britain. Ambassador Jusserant
notified Secretary Bryan that the Ad
m,rslty rules adopted by the French
Government two years ago would be en-
forced during the war.
These rules instructed French com
manders 10 seize as enemy vessels any
ships which had been transferred to neu
trail registry after the beginning of hos
tilities. This notice by the French Gov
ernment never has been modified anC
these rules a,o In force to-day. thus IN
surinE the seizure OF the nrst internet
vessel sailing under the proposed Govern