The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-01-15
NOTE OF BRITAIN
is INCONCLUSIvE
U. S. Wants More Detailed EvI-
denCe on Detained Ships.
GROUND MUST Be MADE CLEAR

Britain's Contention Contrary to One
at Washington-Neutral Importers
of Copper Say That Increase Is
Caused by Germany's Supply Be-
ing Cut off.
WASHINGTON - The state de-
partment will await the receipt OF
Great Britain's promised second note
in reply to the American protest
against British interference with neu-
tral trade before attempting TO an
swer the preliminary note received
last week
Secretary bryan has had confer
ence Win Sir cecil Spring-klce, the
British ambassador, during which ne
was assured that the second note
would be transmitted by the BRUSH
government Just as soon as the data
...- it could be gathered and put INTO
.4.ape. The ambassador was unable
to Tx a dennite time for the prooaDle
rival of the second note, but 1t Is
wed it probably will be dispatched
III two weeks.
Britain Must Adouce Proof.
N the opinion of officials here the
H. i government must produce Id
1. ucond note very detailed eVl-
!, regarding cases OF detained
S if they expect to hold success
i--ly to the positions taken III the
ncte Just made public. The British
note maintains that the British au-
thcrities have adhered to the rule sug-
gested in the American note and de-
tanned cargoes only where there is
real ground for suspecting the pres
ence of contraband" To support thls
contention in the face of one exactly
To the contrary from Washington, 1t
is believed the British must adduce
specific and complete data about each
particular case. Officials regard it as
inconceivable that the British govern
ment would make claims of this sort
in a preliminary note which it could
not support with evidence, but until
the evidence is presented doubt will
exist as to the full accuracy OF the
British statement that there have
been no unwarranted detentiOns.
The British note likewise states
that the British have adhered to the
rule of not putting cargoes OF food
strffs into prize courts except in cases
of presumption that they are intend
ed for the armed forces of the enemy.
If Great Britain has evidence against
American cargoes to support this
statement officials here would be
m,lch interested in seeing 1t.
False Destination Charge Strong.
Another statement contained in the
British note exciting interest here is
that declaring that there are flour
ccrsignments to Sweden at the pres
ent time of copper and aluminium
which, though definitely consigned to
Sweden, are, according to positive
evidence in the possession of his ma
jesty's government definitely destined
for Germany"
Sir Edward Grey must, In his sec
ono note. produce evidence in sup
port of this strong statement, it is
believed here, if he hopes to have his
argument that attempts TO get contra
band into Germany through neutral
countries warrant the steps Great
Britain has taken to prevent it.
Neutrais Explain Big Imports.
On the other hand there is evidence
to be gathered in support Of the Amer
icaE case, it was indicated here Eff
forts will be made to refute the argu-
ment of Great Britain that the very
largely increased exports of contra
band from the United States to the
neutral countries adjacent to Ger
many and Austria is indication that
contraband is reaching British enc
mics through those countries 1t has
already been claimed by representa-
tives of Italy and Sweden that much
of the increased expectation to their
countries from the United States
since the war was due to the fact
that Germany, on which they had pre-
viously depended for supply was no
longer available to them and that
they were thus compelled to do more
of their buying of these articles from
the United States.