New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-18
Aim Now Is to Interfere
with u. S. Commerce as
Little as Possible.
PUBLIC ON OTHER
SIDE RESENTFUL
Much To Be Done, II Is Said 10
Eradicate Feeling Caused
by American Note.

London. Jan. I7.-There ~ evidence
that much is being done here to hasten
dealing with American ships and othet
ships carrying American cargoes ."
the way 20 neutral countries. SHIPS re-
Gently stoned by British warshIp'
have been released more quickly IMAM
before. At the same time. neutral gov
crnments arc making more sTingeh'
regulations against the expectation 20
Germany Of articles whereto the BTU
ish object.
These two steps 90 far toward alleY'-
ating the conditions whereof Wasnihg
ton complained. and while there Is
bound to be yoluminous argument
between the two governments II is I'M
probable that the United States VIII
have justification for further com
nlaiuts. Certainly there ~ every mo-
cation here Of the determination OF me
Rritish authorities 10 interfere Wllh
American commerce as little "a posi-
bic .. - a..
Tho two most serious points IN t3e
American protest concern unreasohaole
DELAY in searching and the questioning
Of the ultimate destination OF gooos
shipped 70 neutrals. WIN the speeu-
ing up % the administrative machlnei
here the first complaint is remedieh'
uhile if the neutral nations MAXI
themselves water:ight regarding re-eA-
portations the question or ultlinsIe
destination becomes less lmportaH,
This brings a prospect OF virtual az
iustment long before the diplo"'"'''
arguments are ended.
II is a curious feature OF the 81 ua-
ton that neither the initial Amerlcsn
protest nor Sir Eward Greys Iepiy
dwells extensively on the admihlsttA-
II DELAY here, which officials on TINS
side declare TO be the most importah
factor Of all. One official says:
az II we're not so serious il would be
Iudicrous that the two governments
sbo,,ld nroceed in exchanging notes
without dwelling upon the most serl-
= phase Of all, hich is tn delay
and secrecy attendant upon stoppage5
and searches ILL
While an amicable adjustment VIII
doubtless be reached between Q gov
ernments. much must be done 70 eradl ,
cate the deep resentment in the NINA
OF the British public against America
nrotest. Tha; resentment VIII last'
and when the war is over il y! tne
one thing retained in the average
British mind. II is quite true that
government officials understand tne
American attitude. although they, Ike
The public, are not keen about the
method of the American protest. which
+ th.y consider was rather hurled al
,her. This ind standing guards
against misunderstanding or friction be
tvoen the Governments. but this govern,
ment nav not always be in power, AMI
the danger lies in the fact that new
government Official who conceivsoly.
nigh, come IN even before the end OF
the war will have the same impression
Of Americas action as tn general pub
lie now holds. The methods which
Washington adopted seem ineXpllcaolee
70 observers mere when II is considered
that for weeks this very situation vas
foreseen by both British and American
officials here. That in or the For-
eign Office and the embassy the danger
of arousing adverse public opinion was
recognized and discussed is personal y
known 20 The Tribune correspondent.
Washington. however, apparently TOOK
no cognizance Of the delicate situati
and of facts which must have been De-
b 70 the department.