Evening star., 1915-01-12
HAS NO Comment
0NBR|T|SHREPLY
President WithhoIds for the
Present His Opinion on Sir
Edward Grey's Letter.
TO DISCUSSIT AT LENGTH
WITH SECRETARY BRYAN
Officials Hope Second Note, Expected
Shortly, Will Define Some
Specific Rules.

President Wilson said today he had no
comment to make on the British reply
to the American note, inasmuch as it
was only a preliminary. He indicated
he had not given the British communica-
ton full study as yet, and plans to dis
cuss 1t at length soon with Secretary
Bryan.
In other quarters. however, where the
communication has been gone over in de-
tail by officers of the government, the
view still prevails that while many con-
ces-ions have been made. the British note
leaves much still to be explained before
American merchants can be apprised of
what they can or cannot do with their
cargoes.
Omcials hope the second British note,
s1peS.ed IN few days, will lay down
specific rules by which American ex-
porters can be guided in the future.
Complete Reply Is Awaited.
Administration officials were unwill-
Ing to discuss the note to any extent,
declaring that it was better to Judge
the British attitude when its complete
reply was in hand. General disappoint-
ment was evident in many quarters,
however. for while the note conceded
that the principles expressed by the
United States were correct. the statistics
which 1t cited were regarded as an
adroit effort to evade the ISSUE
The general complaint of the United
States is that Great Britain, while
promising redress and while conceding
the principles Of international law,
does not square the practice of it's
feet with the utterances of Its foreign
office.
The United States, it is pointed out,
has endeavored without result ever
sice the beginning of the war to OBJ
as to the reasons for detentions. and
has asked vainly for Information as to
the general rules governing the activi-
ties of the British. feet in connection
with neutral commerce
Scores of Ships Detained.
The American government knows that
scores Of ships have been detained only
through shipping companies and ex-
porters. Requests for Information at
London have usually been met with the
statement that ships were released. and
efrorts to obtain explanations Of each
case have been without success.
This was stated authoritatively, AL
though there was qualification over the
promises In. the last part of the note
that Great Britain now was prepared.
whenever q cargo coming from the
United States Is detained, to explain the
case on which such detention has taken
place"
Perhaps more than any other point
in the British note, the citation of
statistics showing large increases in
the commerce. of the United states
with neutrals Of Europe was regarded
~ n dfvrey
Government onicials say these increases
are due largely to the fact that prices
Of American commodities have risen
and neutral countries are unable to get
tisuous to them many Of the ordinary
necessities of life.
.Italy's Explanation Recalled.
The British note, for example. re-
ferred to the great increase in copper
exports from the United States to Italy.
It was stated at the Italian embassy
here that Italy had on several occa-
sions explained to Great Britain the
reason for this increase in her own
inability to import copper for manu-
factures from Germany or Austria.
Similarly. Italy now buks corn and
wheat from the United States where
previously she obtained much from
Roumania and Bulgaria.
Administration officials point out also
that neutral commerce has prof1ted by
the scarcity of ships which will risk
the mine field and journey direct to
Germany with non-contraband goods.
There is no sympathy in official quar-
ters with the British argument that the
United States had made the situation
more difficult by ordering that manifests
be kept secret until thirty days after a
ship sails. American shippers asked for
this change to protect their trade secrets,
and 1t Is contended that a mere examina-
ton Of the manifest of ship at sea is
just as good as publishing it beforehand.
Still Awaiting Information.
1t is regarded as certain that the
United States will continue to insist
that ships must be taken into port for
search only when sufficient proof exists
to warrant the suspicion that they
carry contraband destined to an enemy
The American government is still
awaiting information as to how cop,
per anG other important exports con.
signed to definite consignees in neutra
countries are to be treated. 1t is the
general uncertainty as to what the
British feet may do which is funda.
mentally complained of because expor
ters claim they can get neither ships
nor insurance for their cargoes be
cause Of the hazards and risks in
volved.