Evening star., 1915-10-02
Sir Edward Grey, in Note to
Ambassador Page, Gives
Figures in Support of Denial.
SAYS UNITED STATES
HAS PROFITED BY WAR
British Figures Show Increase in
American Re-Exports to North.
ern Europe Exceed British.

A denial that Great Britain
has been interfering with leglt1-
mate trade of the United States
with neutral European nations
for the benefit of her own ex-
porters is contained in note
handed to Ambassador Page in
London by Sir Edward Grey, the
British foreign minister.
The British foreign minister
quotes figures at length to show
that where British exports and
re-exports have increased, growth
of similar trade from the United
States has been many times as
large, while in many cases there
have been vast increases of
American exports, compared with
decreases in those from the
United Kingdom.
The date of the note is August IS. 1t
was transmitted by mail to the State
Department here instead of by cable.
The note was sent in response to the
British ambassadors report of refer
ence at the State Department to the
ufavorable impression created in the
United States by reports of increases
in British trade with European coun-
tries since the war began. 1t suggests
that statements concerning Great Brit
aims policy have been inspired by Ger
man agents.
Sir Edwards Note.
The note, with certain statistical ia
bles omitted. Is as follows:
'I have the honor to refer to the mem
ofandum which you were good enough
TO communicate on the Sd June last,
in which you informed me of the de-
sire of the United States consul gen.
eral in London to be furnished with
figures showing the amount OF raw
cocoa and preparations of cocoa ex-
ported from Great Britain to Holland,
Denmark. Sweden. Norway and Italy
during the four months ending April
80, 1915, as compared with the same
period in 1914 and 1913. Your excel
lency will remember that l had the
honor to communicate to you tabular
statement of these figures on the lSth
ultimo.
His majesty's ambassador at Wash
ington reported the 22d of July that
the acting councillor of the State De-
partment had referred in conversation
to the unfavorab BILE impression created
at Washington by reports as to the in
crease in British exports to northern
European neutral ports since the out
break of war received from Mr.. Con-
sui General Skinner, these reports hav-
ing given figures showing increases in
the British exports of some commodi-
ties to these countries. i am. therefore,
communicating to Sir c. Spring-Rice
statistics showing what the exports OF
the United Kingdom were in compar1-
son with those of the United States
during the first FIVE months of this
year, in order that this impression
may be removed as soon as possible;
but as hear that statements, no doubt
inspired by German agents. are being
circulated in America to the effect that
his majesty's government are trying to
stop the legitimate trade of the United
States with neutral countries in order
to capture the trade for the British
empire, and are, therefore, allowing
goods to be exported from the United
Kingdom which they have not allowed
to be imported into the same coun-
tries from the United States, I think il
well to inform your excellency imme-
dtately Of the true state of the case,
and with this view to invite attention
to the following data and figures:
Figures Given on Cotton.
Tho increased re-export of cotton
from the United Kingdom to Norway,
Sweden. Denmark and the Netherlands
during the months of January to May,
1915. as compared with the same period
In 1914. amounted to 500. .ss5 centaIs of
100 pounds. The United States export
eo 70 the -FOUR countries mentioned dur
ing this period in 1915 as much as
y.Sb3.63S centals, as compared with
204.l17 centals during January to MAY.
lSl4. an increase OF 3.149,461 centals.
OF SIX times the increase in the export
OF cotton from the United Kingdom
The above figures for the United
Kingdom are taken from the official
customs returns; those for the United
States nave been carefully compiled
BY the war trade department from the
mantfests of those vessels which ac-
tually arrived with cargo from the
United States in Scandinavian and
Dutch ports during the five months,
February to June, 1915. as compared
With hve-twelfths of the total recorded
exports from the United States to those
countries In the year ended June 80.
1914. 1t has been necessary to adopt
this method, as the Monthly Summary
of Foreign Commerce." issued by the
united States government, gives very
few details with regard to American
trade with those countries. It is evi-
dent that some shipments must have
taken place from the United States to
scandinavia and the Netherlands which
could not come within the scope of
even the most circumstantial compiIa-
tion OF statistics drawn up from the
manifest of examined ships alone, and
i would, therefore, lay particular stress
on tne fact that the figures thus OBJ
tained by the war trade department