New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01

The full text Of the American note 10
Great Britain protesting against IN
wArrantable interference with Amer
can commerce due to the policy OF the
British government;
department OF State.
Washington. Dec. 20, lsl4'
The present condition Of American
foreign trade resulting from the IRE
Quont seizures and detcntions OF Amer
lean cargOes destined 10 neutral EURO
pean ports has become so serious as 10
require a candid statement Of the views
OF this government. in order that the
British government may be fully IN.
formed as 20 the attitude OF the United
States toward the policy which has
been pursued By the British authorities
during the present war
You will, therefore, communicate
the following 20 his majesty's princl-
pal Secretary Of State for Foreign Al
fairs. but in doing so you Will assure
nim that il is done in the most friendly
spirit and in the belief that frankness
will better serve the continuance or
cordial relations between the two coun-
tries than silence. which may be mis-
construed into acquiescence IN a course
Of conduct which this government can
not but consider TO be an infringement
upon the rights OF American citizens.
The government OF the United
States has viewed with growing con
Germ the large number OF vessels laden
with American goods destined 70 neu-
tral ports in Europe which have been
seized on the high seas, taken into
British ports and detained sometimes
e. gh q
During the early days of the war this
government assumed that the policy
adopted by the British government was
due 10 the unexpected outbreak OF hos
tilities and the necessity OF immediate
action TO prevent contraband from
reaching the enemy. For this reason II
was not disposed to judge this policy
harshly or protest it vigorously, al
though it was manifestly very injuri-
Gus 70 American trade with the neutral
countries of Europe. This government,
relying confidently upon the high re-
gard which Great Britain has so often
exhibited in the past for the rights OF
other nations, confidently awaited
amendment of a course of action which
denied 70 neutral commerce the free
dom 10 which il was entitled by the
law Of nations.
This expectation seemed 90 be rem
dered the more assured by the state
ment of the Foreign Office early in No
vember that the British government
was satisfied with guarantees offered
by the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish
governments as to incorporation Of
contraband goods when consigned 10
named persons in the territories Of
those governments. and that orders
had been given to the British feet and
customs authorities 10 restrict inter
ference with neutral vessels carving
such csrgoes so consigned 10 veriiica-
ton of ships papers and cargoes.
Expectations Not Realized.
at is, therefore, matter of deep
regret that, though nearly five months
have passed since rhe war began, the
British government have not materially
changed their policy and do not treat
less vigorously ships and cargoes pass
ing between neutral ports in the peace
full pursuit of lawful commerce, which
belligerents should protect rather than
interrupt. The greater freedom from
detention and seizure which was CONT
IDENTIFY expected to result from consign-
ing shipments TO definite consignees.
rather than TO order is still awaited.
at is needless 10 point out TO his
majesty's government, usually the
champion of the freedom of the seas
and the rights of trade, that peace. not
war, is the normal relation between
nations, and that the commerce be-
tween countries which are not bellig-
erents should not be interfered with
by those at war unless such interior
f~ 1.-g INN Faf i've e.
sity 70 protect their national safety,
and then only to the extent that it Is
a necessity. IL is with no lack OF ap-
probation Of the momentous nature of
the present struggle in which Great
Britain is engaged, and with no selfish
desire 10 gain undue commercial ad-
vantage that this government is re-
luctantly forced 10 the conclusion that
the present policy of his majesty's
government toward neutral ships and
cargoes exceeds the manifest necessity
Of a belligerent, and constitutes re-
strictions upon the rights of American
citizens on the high seas which are
not justified by the rules of interna-
tional law or required under the prin-
ciple Of self-preservation.
"The government OF the United
States does not intend at this time to
discuss the propriety of including GER
tain articles in the lists OF absolute
and conditional contraband which have
been proclaimed by his majesty. Open
10 objection as some Of these seem to
this government, the chief ground OF
present complaint is the treatment OF
cargoes of both classes OF articles
when bound to neutral ports.
Articles listed as absolute contra
band, shipped from the United States
and consigned 20 neutral countries,
have been seized and detained on the
ground that the countries TO which
they were destined have not prohibited
the exportation Of such articles. I'm
warranted as such detentions are, IN
the opinion Of this government. Ameri-
can exporters are further perpleXed by
the apparent INDIGESTION Of the British
authorities in applying their own rules
10 neutral cargoes. For example, q
shipment Of copper from this country
70 a specified consignee in Sweden was
detained because, as was stated by
Great Britain, Sweden had placed no
embargo on copper On the other hand
Italy not only prohibited the export OF
copper, but, as this government ~ IN
formed, put in force a decree that snip
ments TO Italian consignees OF 10
order which arrive in ports OF Italy
cannot be exported or transshipped
The only exception Italy makes is OF
conner which passes through that coun'