The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-12
ENGLAND'S REPLY
FAILS TO SATISFY
UNITED STATES
Officials Hoping Detailed
Reply Will Be More Spe-
viiic--General DisappOint-
ment Is Plainly Evident

| Washington, January 11,-Great Brit
aims preliminary reply to the American
protest concerning neutral commerce
though gratifying in concessions 1t mahes.
| has failed in many respects to satisfy
| the United States government. Officials
confidently hope a complete answer will
give specific information requested and
clear up uncertainties, which, according
to the Washington government, surround
the commerce of neutrals.
This was revealed in high official quar-
ters today. although there was no formal
comment When Sir Cecil Spring Rice,
the British ambassador. called on Secre-
| tary Bryan to inform him that the Brit
| ish supplementary note would not be
| forthcoming for several days, the Secre-
| tary told him that the American govern
ment would not comment in the interim,
but would await the note.
Administration officials were unwilling
to discuss the note to any extent. Gen
eral disappointment was evident in many
quarters, however, for while the note
conceded that the principles expressed by
the United States were correct, the sta
tistics which 1t cited were regarded a.
an adroit effort to evade the issue.
Asked for Information
The general complaint of the United
States is that Great Britain does not
square the practice of it's fleet with ut
terances of it's foreign office. The Uni
ted States, 1t Is pointed out, has en-
deavored unsuccessfully to obtain in
formation as to general rules governing
the activities of the British fleet in con-
| nection with the neutral commerce.
The American government knows
through shipping companies and export
ers that scores of ships have been de-
tanned. Requests for information at Lon
| don usually have been met with the
statement that ships We're released and
efforts to obtain explanations of each
| case have been without success. This
| was stated authoritativey today.
| There was qualification over promises
| In the last part of the note that Great
Britain now was prepared, whenever
| 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 sta
! tistics showing large increases in the
| commerce of the United States with Eu-
| ropean neutrals was regarded here as
| irrevelant and misleading Government
| officials say these Increases are due
largely to the fact that prices of Ameri-
| can commodities have risen and neutral
| countries are unable to get from the
belligerent countries contiguous to them
many ordinary necessities of life.
! The British note referred to the great
II crease in American copper exports to
Italy 1t was stated at the Italian en-
bassy here that Italy had explained to
| Great Britain the reason for this increa Sc
| was her own inability to import copper
from Germany Austria Similarly
| Italy now buys corn and wheat from the
| United States where previously she OBJ.
| tanned much from Roumania and Bull.
garia.
No Sympathy With Argument
There is no sympathy in official quar-
tiers with the British argument hat the
| United States has male the situation
d1fflcult by an order that manfests be
| kept secret until 30 days after a shr
| sails. American shippers asked this t.
| protect trade secrets and it is contendet
] that a mere examination of the NANTES
of a ship at is Just as good as pub
| fishing 1t beforehand. It is regarded a.
certain that the United States will con
| tinue to insist that ships must be taken
into port for search only when there /,
proof to warrant the suspicion that they
carry contraband destined to an enemy
| The American government still awaits
| information as to how copper and Other
| exports consigned to definite consignees
| In neutral countries will be treated. I
| is the general uncertainty as to what tn,
| British fleet may do which is funda-
mentally complained of. because export
ers claim they can get neither ships no.
| insurance for their cargoes because o.
| hazards and risks involved.