The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-01-14
U. S. NOTE IS RIGHT
Great Britain Admits Correctness
and Promises Relief.
of Our Ships VIII Not
Stop. But international Ealo
Will Not Be Exceeded.

Washington, ~. C.-Great brltaln
reply to the note from the
United States government, requesting
improvement in the treatment of
American commerce by the British
fleet, was made public here and in
London Sunday by mutual agreement
between the State department and the
British foreign office.
The British communication concurs
in the view of the United States that
commerce between the neutral nations
should be interfered with only when
imperatively necessary and officials of
the Washington government construed
it as conceding that the principles ex-
pressed by the American note were
just and upheld by the previously ac-
cepted usages of international law.
The only formal comment made was
contained in brief statement issued
by Secretary Bryan, who said:
"This answer, being preliminary,
and not being intended as a complete
reply, we will postpone comment until
the full answer is received.
Briefly, the British note, while con-
ceding the principles of the American
government contentious, points out
difficulties in actual practice, refers to
alleged fraudulent practices by ship
pers and cites statistics showing an
increase, rather than decrease, in GER
tain neutral commerce, in support OF
Great Britain's suspicious that Ger
many and Austria have been indirectly
obtaining contraband through neutral
countries. The note promises, how
ever, that Great Britain will make
redress whenever the action of the
British fleet may Internationally ex
coed" the limits of international law
The text of the British communica
tion is as follows:
1.-The British secretary of State fol-
foreign affairs to the American am
bassador, foreign Office, january z
1915-Your Excellency: l have thu
honor to acknowledge receipt of you
note of the 18th of December.
at is being carefully examined ant
the points raised in it are receiving
consideration, as the result of which
reply shall be addressed to your excel
lency, dealing in detail with the issue
raised and the points to which tn
United States government has draw
attention. This consideration and tn
preparation of the reply will necessar
lily require some time, and l therefor
desire to send, without further delay
some preliminary observations whic
will, trust, help to clear the groun
and remove some misconceptions tbs
seem to exist.
LET me say at once that we Ell
tirely recognize the most friendl
spirit referred to by your excellenc
and that we desire to reply in the sam
spirit and in the belief that, as yor
excellency states, frankness will be:
serve the continuance of cordial reli
tions between the two countries.
His majesty's government Co
daily concurs in the principle EMU
ciated by the government of tn
United States, that a belligerent
dealing with trade between neutra
should not interfere, unless such int
ference is necessary to protect Il
belligerents' s national safety, and the
only to the extent to which this
necessary. We shall endeavor to kee
our action within the limits of tn
principle on the understanding that
admits our right to interfere whs
such interference is not with boz
fide' trade between the United Stat
and another neutral country, but vii
, trade in contraband destined for Il
enemy's country, and we are read
whenever our action may unintentio
ally exceed this principle, to make T
? dress.
1--WE think that much misconcepti,
exists as to the extent to which '
have, in practice, interfered with trad
Your excellency's note seems to no
His majesty's government responsit
for the present condition of trade wi
neutral countries, and it is stat
that, through the action of His ma
esty's government, the products of {
great Industries of the United Stat
& have been denied long established ms
kets in European markets, whic
though neutral, are contiguous to t
seat of war"