The Washington times., 1915-05-23
BERLIN FEELS CRISIS
WITH US, IS OVER
Danger Point in Negotiations
Believed to Have Been Pass.
ed on Friday.
Continued from First Page)

germany was to be carried out. issued
tho following statement:
The British embassy Is authorized
to state that in cases where a merchant
vessel sails from a port, other than a
German port, carrying goods Of enemy
orlTin for which American importers
claim to have made payment prior to
March ]. 1918. proofs that such goods
| were paid for before March ], may be
submitted for examination to the en-
passy. II such proofs are presented at
sufiiciently early stage to enable the
report thereon to be communicates in
time to the British authorities. the re-
suits Of the Investigation will be taken
into account and due weight attached to
mem them In deciding whether the goods
| the provisions Of article 6 Of the order
| In council Of March IL
! The United States accepted this Of
fer at its face value. The foreign trade
out to importers throughout the country
a circular offering to do everything pos
siole to get all goods purchased by
Americans through the lines Of the
ssfse and t,r French Wsr'h, In thi.
states to the British order in council
was set forth in the following terms:
,While the Government of tho
United States cannot In any way lend
IT'S aid in an official and formal man
ner to procuring American owned
portets Of the United States which
would in the slightest degree amount
70 recognition of the position Of
traband goods. especially from neu-
tral ports. the office Of the foreign
trade advisers Of the Department Of
state will aid informally American
importers who desire to present proof
or ownership of American goods Ia
Germany for which American i'm
porters claim to have made payment
prior to March l. 1915.
Gathering Proofs.
Since that time the foreign trade
advisers have been gathering such
proof. Large quantities OF such goods
have been brought into the United
states In neutral bottoms. But goods
destined to neutral countries have
been held up and diverted into British
and French ports by allied warships
and parts Of cargoes of goods made
In Germany en- route to the United
states have been held up.
Three days ago the foreign trade
advisers were notified late at night by
the British embassy that q notifica.
tion had been received from the Brit
ish foreign office extending until June
l5 the time under which ADVANTAGE
could be taken OF the original Brit
ish Is. offer and asking that the United
extension. No application had been
made for such extension and the VOL
untary action caused surprise and
aroused suspicion. The counselor OF
the state Department was consulted
he pointed out that the original mod
ihcation OF April contained no time
limit. 1t had been accepted by the
United States only unoffcially and in
formally. And he made 1t clear that
u there was any acceptance now Of
the extension In an official manner II
would carry with 1t acceptance OF the
principle OF the order in council
The British embassy was Informed
that the United States position was un-
changed. Almost Immediately the Brit
ish foreign office issued the claim that
the United States had accepted the ar
rangements made by the embassy for
disposing Of cargoes sent before prize
courts. and this the State Department
was compelled to repudiate In plain lam
guase. 1nasmuch as the embassy here
places the entire blame on the foreign
office in London there was nothing for
this Government to do but to suspend
its unofficial negotiations with Sir Rich
ard Crawford and put the matter up to
the state Department. 1t will now, II
Is likely. directly address the British
foreign office through Ambassador
Page, and not only reaffrm the original
protest against the order in council.
but demand that American-owned goods
that are not contra band be permitted
transit wherever consigned without
any interference other than that which
is recognized by international law un-
der legal blockade maintained by a
sufficient number OF warships operating
off the blockaded coast.
Question Of Goods.
The case in many respects parallels
that now in dispute with Germany. ex-
cept that this time IT is American goods
and not American lives. But the prin-
ciple Is about the same. England has
the right to blockade German ports.
but this Government will never con-
cede her the right to interfere with our
commerce to neutral nations whether
the ultimate destination Of the goods
so long as they are non-contraband-be
Germany or any other belligerent
power"
The British developments overshad-
owed interest in the German reply. |
lieve that Germany Will send an an |
swer TO the Wilson letter of protest
a gainst submarine warfare directed |
against merchant vessels that will In |
the main prove acceptable to the |
United States. Germany is expected /
Wilson that affect the national hon
or of the United States. The right Of
Americans to go where they will Is
not expected to be challenged but
Germany also is expected to insist
on her right of reprisal against her
enemies.
1t was said at the State Department
today that the reply was expected to
be handed to Ambassad dor Gerard in
Berlin probably Tuesday.