Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-18
ENGLAND WILL NOT AC-
CEDE TO u. S. PROTESTS
CONTINUED From Page y

ter and without making any provts-
ion for the safety Of n-combatant
crews or giving them chance OF say
ing their lives. has made 1t necessary
for His Majesty's government to con-
slider what measures they should
adopt to protect their interests. It is
impossible for one beligerent to de-
part from rules and precedents and
for the other to remain bound by
them"
Supplementing the preliminary re-
ply Of several weeks ago, the new
note is about ten thousand words
long and includes not only statistical
argument, but further discussion OF
the legal principles involved. Foremost,
however, is the denial CT the British
government that the depression In
American industries referred to in the
American note was due to the alleged
interference Of the British feet with
American commerce. or the result OF
any exercise Of belligerent rights"
Knows Y. S. Trade Statistics
Since the presentation Of the pre-
liminary note, Sir Edward states that
he has had further opportunity of
examining into the trade statistics Of
the United States as embodied in the
customs returns, in order to see
whether the belligerent action of
Great Britain has been in any way
the cause of the depression which
Your Exceuency Ambassador Page
described as existing in the United
States and also whether the seizures
Of vessels or cargoes which have been
made by the British navy have in
fiicted any loss on American owners
for which our existing machinery pro-
vides no means Of redress
In setting out the results Of my in
vestigation''. writes the British secretary
II think it we'll to take the opportunity
Of giving a general review Of the meth
DDS employed by His Majeety's govern
ment TO intercept contraband trade with
the enemy. OF their consistency with
the admitted right Of a 1eligerent to
intercept such trade, and also of the
extent to which they have endeavored
to meet the representations and com
plants from time to time addressed to
them on behalf Of the United States
government
Towards the close Of your note OF the
18th OF December Your Excellency de-
scribed the situation produced by the
action Of Great Britain as a pittful one
to the commercial interests Of the
United States and said that many of the
great industries OF the country weH
suffering because their products were
denied long established markets in Eu-
ropean countries contiguous TO the ma
tons at war.
Result to Be Expected
''It is unfortunately true that in these
days. when trade and finance are cosno-
politan, any war, particularly any war
Of magnitude, must result in serious dis
location Of commerce including that of
the nations which take no part in the
war Your Excellency will realize that
in this tremendous struggle, for the
outbreak Of which Great Britain is in
no way responsible, It is Impossible for
the trade of any country to escape all
injury and loss. but for such His Males
tvs government are not to blame
II do not understand the paragraph
which have quoted from Your Excel
iency's note as referring to the ind1rect
consequences Of the state OF war, out
to the more proximate and direct OF our
bell;gerent action IN dealing with neu-
trail ships and cargoes O. the high seas.
S1,ch action has been limited OF vessels
on their way to enemy ports OF ports
in neutral countries adjacent to the
theatre Of war, because It Is only
through such ports that the enemy IN
PRODUCES the supplies which he requires
for carrying on the war.
Small Number Seized
Sir Edward then points out that only
eight out OF the 773 ships sailing from
the United States for neutral Euro
peen countries have been placed IN the
prize courts. and that only 45 have been
Temporarily detained to enable paracu-
lar consignments OF cargo to be dis
charged for the purpose Of prize court
procedure
The note does not go into detail as to
American ships detained on the high seas
or taken to British ports for search. The
next paragraph analyses the STATISTICS
of exports from the United States ana
wakes the observation that sit is there
fore clear that, If cotton be excluded. the
effect Of the war has teen not to in
crease, but practically to arrest the &C.
cline of American exports which was IN
prorress earlier in the year; in fact, any
decrease in American exports which Is
attributed to the war is essentially due
to cotton"
Cotton Imports
Pointing out that Great Britain has
never declared coftrabapd or interfered
with its shipment, the note then re-
marks that imports Of cotton to the
United Kingdom fell as heavily as those
to other countries and the same no
doubt was true Of France"
1.-The general result it continues. lis
TO show conrincingly that the naval op-
erations Of Great Britain are not the
cause of any diminution in the volume
,f American exports and that If the COM
merce Of the United States is in the IN
condition which Your Exceilen-
cy describes, the cause ought IN fairness
to be sought elsewhere than in the &C
tivities Of His Majesty's naval forces
Moreover, the British communication
contends that even though trade between
the United States and the United KING
dom has diminished from normal, the
With neutral countries as COM
pared with previous years has been main
tanned and the inference may fairly be
drawn" that a substantial part OF this
trade was in fact intended for the en-