The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
PRELIMINARY REPLY
TO AMERICAN NOTE is
MADE BY ENGLAND


TO AMERICAN NOTE is
MADE BY ENGLAND
Continued from Page One)
denied long established markets in Eu-
ropean countries, which, though neutral.
are contiguous to the seat of war Such
a result is far from being the intention
Of his majesty's' government, and they
would exceedingly regret that 1T should
De due to their action. / have been un-
able to obtain complete or conclusive
figures showing what the state of trade
with these neutral countries has been
recently. and l can therefore only ask
that some further consideration should
be given to the question whether United
States trade with these neutral coun-
tries has been SO seriously affected.
Comparative Figures
"The only figures as to the total vol
ume of trade that | have seen are those
for the exports from New York, for the
month of November, 1914, and they are
as follows compared with the month OF
November, 1913:
Exports from New York for November,
1913, and November, 1914. respectively:
Denmark. 1855, 600; 81, 101 900.
"Swede S377, 600; $2S5S. 900.
Norway. SAT-, 900; S2,31S.00o.
Italy, $2,971, 600; $4,7S1 600.
Holland, s4,3S9. eco; sS,96O,000
ut is true that there may have been
a falling off in cotton exports, as to which
New York figures would be no guide, but
his majesty's government has been more
careful not to interfere with cotton and
its place on the free list has been scrupu-
lousy maintained
Figures Not Conclusive
1--WE do not wish to lay too much stress
upon incomplete statistics the figures
above are not put forward conclusive;
and we are prepared to examine any fur
Their evidence with regard to the state
of trade with these neutral countries,
which may point to different conclusion
or show that it is the action of his majes-
tvs government in particular, and not the
existence of state of war and conse-
quent diminuton of purchasing power and
shrinkage of trade, which is responsible
for adverse effects upon trade with the
neutral countries.
That the existence of a state of war
on such a scale has had a very adverse
effect upon certain great industries. such
as cotton, is obvious; but it is sub
mitted that this is due to the general
cause of the diminished purcha sing power
the United Kingdom, rather than to in
reference with trade with neutral coun-
tries In the matter of cotton, 1t may be
recalled that the British government gave
special assistance through the Liverpool
Cotton exchange to the renewal of trans
actions in the cotton trade of not only
the United Kingdom but of many neutral
countries
Detention of Copper
your excelleney's note. refers in par
ticular to the detention of copper. The
figures taken from official returns for
the export of copper from the United
States for Italy for the months during
which the war has been in progress up to
the end of the first three weeks of De-
cember are as follows:
1913 Fifteen million two hundred and
two thousand pounds; 1914, sc, 1855 pounds.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Switzer-
land are not shown separately for the
whole period in the United States returns,
but are included in the heading other
Europe that is Europe other than the
United Kingdom, Russia, France. Bel
GUM, Austria, Germany, Holland and
Italy. The corresponding figures under
this heading are as follows: 1918, 7,271 900
pounds; 1914, 35347,O 900 pounds.
with such figures the presumption is
very strong that the bulk of copper con-
signed to thees countries has recently been
intended, not for their own use pul .vr
that of a belligerent who cannot import
1t direct. 1t is therefore an imperative
necessity for the safety of this country
while it is at war that his majesty s
government should do all in their power
to stop such part Of this import Of copper
as is not genuinely destined for neutral
countries.
Particular Shipment Not Quoted
Your excellency does not quote any
particular shipment of copper to Sweden
which has been detained. There are, how
ever, four consgnments to Sweden at the
present time of copper and aluminium
which. though definitely consigned to
Sweden, are, according to positive evil
dence in the possession of his majesty 6
government, definitely destined for Ger.
many
81 cannot believe that, with such fig.
ures before them and in. such cases az
those mentioned the government of the
United States would question the pro.
priety of the action of his majesty's gov
eminent in taking suspected cargoes tc
a prize court and we are convinced that
it cannot be in accord with the wish
either of the government or of the peo
pie of the United States to strain the
International code in favor of private
interests so as to prevent Great Britain
from taking such legitimate means fol
this purpose as are in her power.
Should Not Detain FOodstuffs
with regard to the seizure OF food
stuffs to which your excellency refers
his majesty's government is prepared t,
admit that foUdstuffs should not be de
tanned and put into a prize court with
out presumption that they are intended
for the armed forces of the enemy o.
the enemy government. We believe tina
this rule has been adhered to in prac
tice hitherto, but II the United State
government have instances to the con
trary we are prepared to exam ne then
and il is our present intention to ad
here to the rule although we cannot Civ
| an unlimited and unconditional undertak
ing in view of the departure by thos
against whom we are fighting from hith
erto accepted rules of civilization ans
humanity and the uncertainty as to tn,
extent to which such rules may be VIC
! LATED by them in future.
From the 4th of August last, to tn
81 of January the number of steamship
proceeding from the United States TO
| Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden an,
Italy has been 773. OF these there ar,
| Is which have had consIgnments or car
goes placed in the prize court while o
the ships themselves only eight have beef
placed in the prize court and one of thes
has since been released. 1t is, how
ever, essential under modern condition
that, where there is real ground for sus
pecting the presence of contraband. tn
vessels should be brought into port 70
examinations. In no other way can tn