Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-18
Assertion Is Chief Feature OF
England's Second ard Gem
plete Reply TO American Pro
test Of December.
RElalIh ION THREATENED
Great britain Announces She
VIII Take Measures Of Repris
III for German Submarin,
Poiicy--Alay Waive Rules OF
international Law.

Washington. Fep. i7.-tteat EritAin'I
second and c'aliIet4 rep!y to the Amer
itjr ""to b. g:rtost. whirh or December
- ios.. asked for uu carl" improvement;
IN the treatment of tp,eiicAn commerc,
10y the British fleet wa>. iuado public to
night ny mutual agreement between tn,
state department and the British foreign
Office.
Tho note. addressed to AmbassaIo
Page by Sir Edward Grey under date o
February 10. denies that the depression i,
American industries is due to the activity
# the british fleet. and suggests among
other causes the shortage Of shipping ia
cilitics. the consequent dininution of cot
ton trade and tho destruction by submar-
inc mines "laid by tho enemy indiscrim-
natoly" Of many neutral vessels.
After givinn lenethy and detailed
answer to the charge that American ships
and cargoes We're being unduly detained
the communication contains IN its con
Guiding paraGIarh the announcement
that Great Britain intends to take retail
atnry measures against the German sub
marine campaign against enemy ship,
but does not reveal their nature.
RETALIATION TOWARD GERMANY,
Conceding that fcodsturs intended
for the civil population of a country are
, not contraband the British government
points out that "in any country in which
there exists such tremendous organiza-
tion FOR war AS now obtains in Germany
there is no clear division between those
whom the government is responsible foi
foeding and those whom 1t is not"
1t will still he our endeavor," says
the final paragraph, ITO avoid injury
and loss TO neutrals but the announce
ment by the German government Of their
intention t. sink merchant vessels and
thdr cargoes without veriflcation of
their nationality or character and with
out making any provision for the safe
" Of uou-comhatant crews or giving
them q chance of saving their lives. has
made it necessary for His Majesty's gov
ernment to consider what measures they
should adopt to protect their interests.
Il Is impossible for one beligerent to
depart from rules and precedents
and for the other to remain bound by
them
/ a y
Supplementing the preliminary reply OF
several weeks ago, the new note is about
ten thousand words long and includes
not only a statistical argument but
further discussion of the legal principles
involved Foremost. however, is the
denial Of the British government that
| the depression in American industries
referred to in the American note was due
| to the alleged Interference of the British
| fleet with American commerce, or the
| result Of any exercise Of hclligere1t
| rights"
Since the presentation OF the pre-
| liminarY note, Sir Edward states that
ne has had further opportunity OF
examining into the trade statistics o.
! the United states as embodied in the
customs returns. in order to see wheth-
er tho bclligercnt action OF Great
Britain has been In any way the cause
nf the trads dcprcs sion which Your
EXccllenc% Ambassador Fage) de-
scribcs rs existing in the United States
and also whether the seizures OF YES
sells or cargoes which Rave been made
h the British navy have inflicted any
/ loss on American owners 70. which
! our existing ma2ninery provides no
, r-t0la of redress"
BRITISH METHODS.
B In setting out tho results o. my
/ investigation" wr.tcs the British sac
: rctury. ', thirH il well to take the on
/ portunity Of givirE &. general review
of the methods employed by His Ma
| jestys government to intercept con
/ trahand trade with the enemy, Of their
| consistency With the adrtted right ct
! a belligcrent 10 intercept such trade
| and also OF the oXtcnt TO which they
/ have endeaVured 10 meet the repro
sentatioHs erd conipls irts from time
! To time adore. Sod to them Or behalf
Of the United states government
Towards the 'loso OF your note G.
the 2sth of December, Your Excellencv
described the situation produced hy
/ the action of Great Britain ns n p.,Icul
one 10 the commercial interests OF ;.a
United States, and said that .na,.y 90.
the great Industries of tho courl~r
We're suffering because their prod
were denied long established inarkots
in neutral European c1untric. cor
tiFuous to tho nations Al war.
"It is unfortunately true that in those
days, when trade and finance ore cos.
mopolitan, any war, particularly n war
OF any magnitude, must result I'm a
srievous disloCotion of commerce, in
cluding that of the nations which take
I no part in the war. Your Excellence
Will realize that in this tremendous
struggle. for the outbreak of which
Great Britain is in no way Responsible
IT rs imposs'hl" for tho trade of any