The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-11
England's Debt of Gratitude

London, Jan. IL, 12.5T L. M.-The
London afternoon papers commenting
on the reply of Foreign Secretary Grey
to the American note concerning un-
warranted interference with America S
shipping, are unanimous in calling at
tention to Great Britain s debt of graf
titude to the United States and her re-
sire to repay it by interfering with
American trade as little as is necessary
to secure the safety of this country and
her allies.
Tine papers take the ground that the
/ Foreign Secretary facts and figures,
unless they can be explained or re-
butted, prove that enormous supplies
necessary to the prosecution of the
war have reached the enemy under GOV.
er of neutral trade. The " Westminster
Gazette says:
:" \ belligerent is guarding his own
interests. No obligation rests upon
neutral to help a belligerent or to pre-
vent the embarkation of contraband.
We do not wish to throw the slightest
responsibility on the United States but
in dealing with a friendly neutral we
can in a variety of ways consult his
convenience and the people of the Unit
ed States may be assured that we will
do whatever possible to mitigate the
state of war to them. Closer co-opera-
tion between the two governments will
have good results"
What Every Briton Will Approve
The ''Pall Mall Gazette SAYS:
Foreign Secretary Grey's reply was
Just what every Britou will approve
who warmly desires the friendship of
the United States, but who also is de.
teTmined that no legitimate weapon
shall be sheatned which can he used
to bring the war to a speedy and sue
cessful conclusion
The ''Globei expresses the opinion
that Sir Edward Grey's crank aud
friendly reply goes in some directions
even further toward meeting the wishes
of the United States than some of us
think. = The "Globe' suggests that
| the principal trouble over the question
of contraband has arisen through the
change in the American practice and
the present prohioition of the publica-
tion of ships manifests until thirty i
after the vessels have left America,
ports. In this connection the paper
saws
III the consequent detention is IN
convenient and injurious to American
trade tine American government has tae
remedy in it's own hands,
American Shippers Discuss Reply
London, Jan. II, 2.12 P. M.-Tbe
opinion prevails among American shin.
ping agents in London that Washing
ton will answer the British preliminary
reply to the American shipping note,
because of what they term its cxparte
nature. While Great Britain male it
clearer that no reply was expected I'M
til she had given her own final answer
which probably will be within a fort.
night, American shippers believe there
are certain phases of the preliminary
note which require explanation.
1.-The failure of the British reply TO
explain that copper and other Ameri.
can exports to neutral countries prob.
ably were forwarded in large quanti
ties TO Russia is looked upon as an i'm
portant omission. Another point dwelt
upon by shipping agents is the fact
that Great Britain has not taken into
the account the cutting off of the Ger.
man exports to neutral countries, which
of necessity must buy from the United
states goods which cannot be had from
Germany or England.
Considerable comment has been
aroused by the fact that both the Amer.
lean note and the British response
touched upon the chief grievance of
shippers-the great delay in determine
ing whether cargoes detained are con.
traband. Agents of American firms
which have suffered from this condition
feel that the actual statements of the
annoyances and delays which shippers
have endured would hasten an adjust.
ment of differences more effectively
than general statements without de-.
tails of specific cases.
sTAR-INDEPENDENT WANT