New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11
BRITAIN BLAMES WAR
RATHER THAN SEIZURES
Formal Reply to American Protest Cites Figures TO
Show Conditions Complained OF Are Not Due
TO Interference with Trade with Neutras

States 20 strain the international code
IN favor of private interests 50 as TO
prevent Great Britain from taking such
legitimate means for this purpose as
are in her power.
"Nith regard TO the seizure of food
euTs. 90 which YOUR cNcellcncy re-
fcis. his majesty's government are
prepared Go admit that foodstuiis
should not be detained and put into
prize court without presumption That
thcy are intended for the armed coun-
tries OF the enemy OF the enemy gov
crrmCnt We believe that this rule
has been adhered TO IN practice hither-
TO- but If the United States govern
meut have instances TO the contrary
We are prepared TO examine them, and
DO is our present intention 10 adhere
to the rule, though we cannot give an
unlimited and unconditional undertak-
ing. in view of the departure by those
against whom we are lighting from
hitherto accepted rules of civilization
and humanity. and the uncertainty as
TO the extent TO which such rules may
be violated by them nm future.
Prom August : last 20 January
the number Of steamships proceeding
from thc United States for Holland,
Denmark. Norway. Sweden and Italy
has been 113. Of these there are
forty-ayc which have had consign-
muts or carCocs placed in the prize
court. while Of the ships themselves
only eight have been placed ln the
prize court. and one OF these has since
been released 10 is, however, essen
tial under modern conditions that
where there is real ground for sus-
pcctug the presence Of contraband the
vessels should bc brought into port
for examination; I'M no other way can
the right of search be exercised, ana
but for this practice 10 would nave
90 be completely abandoned.
Information was received by US
that special Instructions had been
given TO ship rubber from the United
States under another designation 10
escape notice. and such cases have oc-
CURED In several instances. Only by
search in q port can such cases, wnen
SUSPECTED. De discovered and proved.
No Ambiguity as TO Cotton.
"The necessity for examination in
a port may also be illustrated by
hypothetical instance. connected with
cotton. which has not yet occurred.
Cotton is not specifically mentioned
do Your cNceliency's note, but ! have
seen public statements made IN the
United States that the attitude OF ms
majesty's government with regard TO
cotton has been ambiguous, and there
by respons Bile for depression IN the
cotton trade.
There has never been any founda
ton for this allegation. Ills majesty
government have never put cotton ON
the list Of coutrab3Ld; they have
throughout the war Kept lJ on the Tree
list, and on every occasion, Wheh
questioned on the point, they have
stated their intention of adncrng TO
this practice. But information has
reached us that. precisely because we
.aNe declared our intention Of not IN
.crierng with cotton, ships carrying
cotton viii be specially selected TO
carry concealed contraDand, and we
have been warned that copper VIII be
concealed in bales of cotton.
"Mhatevcr suspicious We have enter
tanned. we have not so far made THESE
q ground for OBTAINING any ship car
rving cotton. but should we have IN
formation giving US zeal reason TO be
lieve I'm the case OF particular snip
that the bales Of cotton concealed
conner or other contraband the only
way to prove our casa would be TO eN-
anime and weigh the bales, process
that could be carried out only ny
bringing the vessel into port. In
such case. or If examination JUS
tilted the action of his majestys gov
crnment. the case shall be brought
before q prize court and dealt with
in the ordinary way.
"That the decisions OF British prize
courts hitherto have not been unidNor-
able TO neutrals is evidenced by the
decision i'm the NramiChl case. This
case, which was decided against tine
Crown. laid down that the America"
shipper was 20 be paid, even when ne
had sold g. cargo C. j. f., and when the
risk of loss after the cargo had been
shipped did not apply TO him at all.
Effect on Rubber Trade.
cit has further been represented 20
his maiesty's government, though TINS
subject is not dealt with ln your eN
cellency's note, that our embargoes ON
the export Of some articles, more espe-
ciallv rubber, have nterlered with
commercial interests In the United
States. ~ is, Of course, difficult Tor his
maiesty's government TO permit the eN-
mort Of rubber from British dOminlon-
TO the United States M time when
rubber Is essential 90 belligerent coun-
tries for carrying on the war ana
when a new trade IN exporting rubOei
from the United States ln susplciously
large quantities TO neutral countries
has actually sprung up since the war
at would be impossible 20 permit the
eypou OF rubber from Great Britain
unless the right of his majesty gov
crrmcnt were admitted 10 submit 90 d
pri2c court cargoes OF rubber exported
from the United States which they be.
Ucvcd 10 be destined for AN enemy
country. and reasonable latitude of ac-
ton for this purpose were conceded
But his maiesty's government has now
professionally come 20 AN arrangement
with the rubber exporters Do Great
Britain which wiz permit Of licenses
being given under proper guarantee
for the export Of rubber 10 the United
States.
eve arc confronted with the grow
ing danger that neutral countries con
tiguous 10 the enemy will become on a
scale hitherto unprecedented "a base o.
SUPPLIES for the armed soldiers OF oui
enemies and for materials for manu-
featuring armament. The trade hg'
urcs Of imports show how strong TIM
tendency is, but we have no complaint
TO make Of the attitude of the govern
meuts of those countries, which, so fan
as we are aware. have not departed
from proper rules OF neutrality. ".
cndeavor in the interest Of our owl
national safety TO prevent this DANCE
by intcrceptiug goods really destined
for the enemy, without interfering with
those which are bona fide neutral.
L. ;. Increases Difficulty.