Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-12
BRITISH REPLY
Unsatisfactory
TO GOVERNMENT
While Conceding American
Contention in Principle, no
Argument Is Made as TO
Practice,

isr MORNING JouRaAL SPECIAL LEASED ..isst
Washington, Jan ll.-Great Brit
aims preliminary reply to the Ameri-
can note of protest concerning neu-
trail commerce. whsle gratifying in
the concessions it makes. has in many
respects failed to satisfy the United
states government
Officials confidently hope that the
second and complete answer from
England viii give the specific infor-
nation requested by the United states
and clear up the uncertainties which.
according 70 the Washington govern
ment surrounds the commerce of
neutrals
This disposition on the part of the
Washington administration was re-
vealed in high official quarters to-
day, although there was no formal
comment
Waits supplementary Note.
When Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the
British ambassador, called on Secre-
tary BRYAN to inform him that the
British supplementary note would not
be forthcoming for several days. the
secretary told him that the Ameri-
can government would make no COM
ment in the interim. but would pa
tiently await the coming of the note
Administration officials We're UNI
willing to discuss the note TO any ex-
tent, declaring that it was better to
judge the British attitude when its
complete reply was in hand. General
was evident in many
quarters. however for while the note
conceded that the principles express
ed by the United States were correct.
the statistics which it cited were re-
garded as an adroit effort TO evade
the issue.
Not square With Principles.
The general complaints Of the
United States is that Great Britain,
while promising redress and while
the principles of interna-
tional law, does not square the prae-
tice of its feet with the utterances
of its foreign office. The United States
IL is pointed out. has endeavored with
out result ever since the beginning
of the war, TO obtain information
from Great Britain as to the reasons
for detentions. and has asked vainly
FOR Information as to the general
rules governing the activities Of the
British fleet in connection with nett
trail commerce.
The American government knows
that scores of ships have been de-
tanned only through shipping compa-
MES and exporters. Requests for in
formation at London have usually
been met with the statement that
ships were released and efforts to oh
tain explanations Of each case have
been without success
England Promises to Explain.
This was stated authoriatively to-
day, though there was qualification
over the promise in the last part of
the note that Great Britain now is
prepared, whenever a cargo coming
from the United states is detained, to
explain the case on which such de-
tention 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 regard
ed here as irrelevant and misleading
Government officials say these in
creases are due largely tc the fact
that prices Of American commodities
have risen. and neutral countries are
unable to get from the belligerent
countries contiguous to them many
of the ordinary necessities of life.
The British note, for example. re-
ferred to the great increase in con-
per exports from the United States
to Italy It was stated at the Italian
embassy here that Italy had on seve-
raj occasions explained to Great Brit
ain the reason for this increase in
her own inability TO import copper
for manufactures from Germany or
Austria. Similarly Italy now buys
corn and wheat from the United
states where previously she obtained
much from Rumania and Bulgaria
Administration officials point out also
that neutral commerce has proiited
hy the scarcity of ships that viii risk
the mine field and journey direct TO
Germany with non-contraband goods
No sympathy With Complaint.
There Is no sympathy in official
quarters with the British argument
that the United States made the sit
uation more difficult by ordering that
manifests DE kept secret until thirty
DAYS afcr "a ship sails American ship
pers asked for this change to protect
their trade secrets and it is contend
ed that mere examination of the
manifest Of "a ship at sea is just as
good as publishing it beforehand. II
is regarded as certain that The Unit
ga states viii continue TO insist that
ships must be taken into port for
search only when sufficient proof eN-
ists 10 warrant the suspicion that they
carry eontrahand destined to an en-
tnN
The American government ls stth
awaiting information as to how eap-
per and other important exports con-
senrb ta definite consisneea in nen-
Hal countries are DO bo treated. i is