Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-11
ENGLAND'S REPLY
TO PROTEST NOTE
IS MADE PUBLIC
Preliminary Answer Con-
cedes Many Of Americas
Contentious.
POINTS TO DIFFICULTIES
IN ACTUAL PRACTICE
Promises Redress Whenever Ac-
ton Exceeds Limits of
International Law.
OFFICIALS ARE WE'LL PLEASED
Tone Entirely Friendly, and Further
Discussion Expected to BE In
Same Vein.

WASHINGTON, january 1o.-Great
Britain's preliminary reply to tho pro-
test OF the United States against In
tcrruption of American commerce by
the British feet WAS made public here
and In London tonight by mutual
agreement between the State Depart
ment and the British Foreign Office
The British note concurs In the view
OF tho United States that commerce
between neutral nations should be In
terfered with only when absolutely
necessary. and officials here construed
IT as conceding that the principles ex-
pressed by the American protest we're
just.
The only formal comment was this
statement. Issued by Secretary Bryan:
This answer being preliminary and
not being intended complete re-
ply. we will postpone comment until
the full answer is received"
COMEDIES PRINCIPLES
OF L. =. CONVENTIONS
lrefly tho British reply. while con-
ccding the principles on which tho
American contentious are based. points
out difficulties In actual practice. refers
TO alleged fraudulent practices by ship
pers. and cites statistics showing an
increase. rather than a decline. in Ger
tain neutral commerce. In support OF
Great Britains suspicious that Ger
many and Austria have been indirectly
obtaining contraband through neutral
countries.
The note promises. however. that
Great Britain will make redress when
ever the action Of tho British feet may
unintentionally exceed tho limits OF In
ternational law.
Though officials were reserved in
their comment. II was said authorita-
lively tonight that they regard the
tone OF the note AZ entirely friendly.
and believe that further discussion
which Will follow II, will be carried on
in the same vein.
Admission by Great Britain Of one
Of the chief points in the American
note. that the relations between neu-
trails were those OF normal times OF
peace and not Of war. WAS gratifying
10 officials who believed the contro-
versy now would resolve Itself into "a
frank discussion of what were the sc-
tunl necessities which lmpcl interfer-
cnce by bc!ligcrcnt when suspect
ing that the ultimate destination OF n
neutral cargo is belligcrcnt territory
STATISTICS REGARDED
AS MISLEADING
Statistics pointed 10 show that Amer
ican commerce with neutral countries
contiguous 10 Germany and Austria
had Increased materially since the out
break OF the war were regarded here
as misleading. II was pointed out
that. In View OF tho breaking down OF
normal trade routes. many noncontra-
bnnd products had been shipped
through Neutral countries
AS to the increase In shipments OF
copper to Italy. mentioned In the reply.
IT was pointed out that the Italian
ambassador here already had explained
that Italy. which previously had OBJ
tained copper from Germany and Aus
tria. now WAS forced to import from
the United States. because OF the en-
barge on expectation which the bellig-
crents themselves had imposed The
American government contends. more
over. that If copper has reached bellig-
crents through neutral countries, IL Is
the duty of the British to make moro
effective arrangements with those neu-
trail countries
Great Britain's admission that as to
foodstufs and conditional contraband
Lord Salisbury's doctrine quoted in the
American note would be followed by
the British, and that foodstuffs would
an
enemy. also was pleasing to American
officials
WILL NOT ACCEPT
CERTAIN OF VIEWS
There is every reason to believe that
the United States will not accept Great
Britain's view that cargoes must be
taken Into port for extended examina-
ton. While the statistics cited show
that only forty-fivc carGoes out OF 773
actually have been taken into prize
courts, officials here note that no men
ton Is made in the British note Of the
great number Of American cargoes de-
tanned and subsequently released It
was not the loss already suffered by
American commerce which brought
forth the American note, but the desire
to l-event future mistreatment. The
United States also laid stress on the
effect which the detentions already
made had had on shippers, who hesi-
tated to export cargoes on account of
hazards involved. and what was termed
the indecision OF the British authori-
ties In applying their own rules
Officials regarded as novel the argu-
ment OF Great Britain that IL could not
give unlimited adherence to tho rulN
with respect to conditional contraband
destined for belllgerents. because Brit
aims enemies had departed from
hitherto accepted rules Of civilization
and humanity."s.4It was suggeste
Americar, conf Fee should not be
forced sum because of circum-
stances ever Wnich the American peo-
pie could havo no possible control.
As n whole, the British note was ro-
(Continued ON FIftb poUoN