The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-01-08
SECRETARY GREY RETURNS TO
LONDON AND MEETING OF
CABINET Is HELD TO
DISCUSS MATTER.
LONG NEGOTIATIONS
OVER NOTE FORESEEN
Officials Regard Communication as
Friendly and Do Not Believe Diff
ferences Between Two Countries
Are Such That They Cannot
Be Reconcied Satisfactorily.

| London, Dec. 31.-The American.
note sent by the United States to
Great Britain, protesting against the
action Of British warships in OBTAINING
and selling cargoes in American YES
| sells, is now under consideration at the
British foreign office, where no intima-
ton is given as to when reply to the
note may be expected.
Sir Edward Grey, the British for
eign secretary, held a conference at
the foreign office with David Lloyd
George, the chancellor of the ex-
chequer, Reginald McKenna, secretary
of home affairs, Walter Runciman,
president of the board of trade, and
Sir Francis Hopwood, civil lord of the
admiralty on the subject of the Ameri-
can note.
Regards Note as Friendly.
A frank discussion of the note by
British officials shows that they re-
gard is as friendly and they do not be-
lieve the differences between America
and Great Britain are such that they
cannot be recsnciled satisfactorily.
Sir Edward Grey came back from his
holiday vacation to handle the matter
In person.
The note of the American govern
ment has only just reached the British
government and it is likely to occupy
the attention of the ministry for long
time.
In the meanwhile it is understood
that Walter H. Page, the American
ambassador, will be invited to go over
the entire question for Foreign Secre-
tary Grey.
Involves Scandinavian Nations.
Much depends upon the effective eff
fort on the part of Denmark, Holland,
Norway and Sweden to prevent the re-
shipment to Germany and Austria and
Hungary of cargoes received from the
United States. Until watertight regu-
lations are put in force in these coun-
tries little hope, it is understood, is
held out by the British government
for relaxation in the matter of search
ing American cargoes.
! One prominent British official point
ed out that Italy has effectively |
checked contraband shipments to Aus |
tria-Hungary and Germany, with the |
result that Great Britain is not stop
ping ships destined for Italy unless !
there appears special reason to sus-
pect fraudulent consignments.
A guarantee by the United States
as to the honesty of bills of consign.
ment and the enactment OF strict regu-
lations for the severe punishment of !
fraud, granting that the American
government could find satisfactory
means of making such a guarantee, is
admitted by this prominent official as
a possible step which might cause re-
Taxation in the search of American
cargoes.
British officials call attention to the
lenient attitude adopted by the British
government toward American cotton
which, they say, might easily be re-
garded as contraband because of its
use in gun cotton, but which
has not been put on the contraband
list. They say this leniency toward
cotton, however, has been abused by
shippers who used it to conceal copper
and other contraband.
Inasmuch as the American position
IS based on the Interpretation of inter-
national law made by the legal experts
Of the state department at Washing
on, it was no believed that the protest
IAN easily be disposed of.