The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-09
BRYAN RECEIVES
BRITISH ANSWER
TO U. S. PROTEST
Preliminary Note Disclaims
Any Desire to Injure
Our Trade.
EXPLAINS NECESSITY
OF STOPPING CARGOES

wAsHiNGroN. Jan. s.--The reply of the
British Government to the note OF pro-
test from the United states against the
effect on American trade Of the British
policy Of trying to "starve OUT the Ger
mans ard Austrians was received ct the
state Department this afternoon. The
note was transmitted in code by Ambas-
sador Page OF London and was deci-
phered only a few minutes before Mr..
Bryan Iett ,tlie state Department
II is expected here that the note will
he published simultaneously in the United
States and Great Britain on Monday
morning. The British Government sug-
gested simultaneous publication on that
date and Ambassador Page agreed.
The note is not Great Britain's COM
plete answer. IT is general In character
and will be followed by a second note
in which specific cases at issue between
the two great Governments will be dis
cussed In detail
II can he 81 II that the note contains
assurances Of the utmost good will toward
the United states. In fact 1t is under
stood that the reply is being sent in two
notes because the British Government Is
anxlons to put itself on record at the
earliest possible moment as the we'll
wishcr Of American interests. The note
discliims, therefore. the slightest desire
on the part Of Great Britain to harm
American trade in any way.
Points 10 suddenness Of War.
II dwells at length on the extraordinary
situation In which the British Govern
meht finds itself and cites this as a justih-
cation of the practices with regard to
trade Interference.
1t is pointed out that Great Britain
was subjected to an extraordinary strain
by the sudden declarations OF war and
that the nature OF the struggle justfies
her in using her control 81 the seas to
prevent supplies from reaching the enemy.
That right Involves search Of ships At sea.
and this the United States note di' not
question
Attention is also called, Il is under
stood. to the geographical situation sur
ronncing the operations The enemy,
Germany and Austria, have little coast
line, but are surrounded by neutral
countries which. the British contend,
might well become channels Of supplies
OF contraband did not the British take
steps to prevent such a situation.
Attention Is called 1t il understood, To
efforts the British have made toward
effectnG arrangements with these neutral
countries which would render unnecessary
Interference with trade between them and
other neutrals There Is reason to believe
that the complete arrangement with the
Netherlands, announced yesterday--by
which trade with Holland even in con-
traband IL to he absolutely unrestricted
is pointed To as evidence OF The efforts the
uWfs H.. FaN FnF -.
restoration OF normal trade between the
United states and that country.
Mentions Difficulties.
Emphasis Is laid on the desire Of the
British Government to execute It's policy
with the least possible Interference To
genuinely neutral 'radc II Is understood
that the note mentions as SOME OF the
difficulties in the way Of achieving this
result the alleged attempted frauds
pract sed by some American shippers, and
also the action Of the United States in
making American manifests Of cargOes
secret documents
On the other hand IT is apparent that
the British Government will seek to break
down the force of some American con-
tentons regarding the effect Of the Brit
ish policy on American trade. It is
known that statistics compiled here and
futing the claim Of the United States
that American commerce has suffered
greatly at the hands Of Great Britain
The export figures, particularly with re-
gard to copper shipments as published
nv the United States are regarded by
the British as furnishing excellent ma
terial with which to dlsprove some OF
the American claims.
n Is believed that the British assur
ances of greater expedition in the Ad.
miral,y system and the citation Of what
has been already done to improve the
general situation will prove satisfactory
and thai there will remain only two
POINTS OF serious controversy One ol
these will he on the classification of con,
traband which, the United States will serv,
notice will be discussed AZ length II
The near future, The other is expected
10 he the question Of ultimate destins
ton" involving the protest over seizure,
NJ shipments TO order" to neutral coun
tries. This latter question has been tn,
subject Of most Of the discussions car
ried on here and in London since th'
war began, and n IT, not expected tina
the British note will entirely satisfy thii
Government on the subject.
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JEROME AGAIN IN STAND