Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-25
SPECIAL FAVORS
TO US. CITIZENS
Great Britain Recites Efforts to
Minimize Inconvenience to
Neutral Commerce.
MEMORANDUM TO WASHINGTON
No Just Grounds for Complaint
on Account of Treatment
Accorded Cargoes.

Accorded Cargoes.
WASHINGTON. June 24-Great Brit
ain. in memorandum transmitted to
the United States, and made public here
and In London tonight recites at
length its efforts to minimize incon-
venience to neutral commerce resulting
from the order in council against trade
with Germany, Austria and Turkey, and
asserts that American citizens have no
just grounds for complaint on account
or the treatment accorded their car
goes.
NO attempt is made to answer the
principles asserted in the American
note of March 1 protesting against the
order In council. and insisting upon the
right of neutrals to carry on legiti-
mate commerce with each other and to
trade In noncontraband with civilians
In belligerent countries. In trans
mitttng tho memorandum, Ambassador
Rage said IT was merely an explana-
tton of concrete cases and the reEula-
ttons under which they are dealt with"
Another note to Great Britain is now
In course Of preparation at the State
Department. and Is expected to be dis
with Germany over submarine warfare
have been cleared up. While this COM
munication possibly will make refer
ence TO the latest memorandum, 1t is
understood the manner of enforcing
the order in council will not be treated
as relevant to the question at issue
whether there is any warrant in inter-
national law for the powers that Great
Britain and her allies have assumed to
exercise over the commerce of the
world
SPECIAL CONCESSIONS
IN FAVOR OF UNITED STATES
In it's memorandum the Foreign Of
nee emphasizes the various special
concessions made in favor of the United
States citizens; in setting forth that
all British officials have acted in every
case with the utmost dispatch with
the object in view, and of showing in
every case such consideration for neu-
trails as might be compatible with the
object. namely, TO prevent vessels from
carrying goods for or coming from
the enemys territory
Arrangements for buying American
cotton detained and for permitting the
passage Of goods bought In Germany
before the date OF the order in council
are outlined, and the promise made
that consideration would be given to
speclai cases OF this kind in the future
according TO summary of ships
detained there are twenty seven vessels
Which cleared from the United States
no" held In ports OF the United King
dom. or these. eight are said to be
unloading cotton, which Great Britain
mas agreed TO purchase. seven Will be
allowed 10 depart as soon as Items of
their cargo placed in n prize court have
peen discharged. and the other twelve
three OF them American ships-are
the subject Of Investigations not yet
completed
TENT OF MEMORANDUM
TRANSMITTED TO PAGE
Following is the text of the memo
rahdum as transmitted by Ambassador
Page:
Il. His Majesty's government hav.
on various occasions, and notably in
the communication which was ad-
vanced TO the United States ambas
sador on the 18th Of March las., giving
assurance TO the United States gov
ernment that they would mako II their
hrst aim to minimize the inconven-
ience which must inevitably be caused
to neutral commerce from the existence
or a state of war at sea, and in nor
ticular from the measures taken BY the
allled governments for the restriction
or the enemies oversee trade. His
MaJesty's government desire TO offer
the following observations respecting
the manner in which they have con-
sistently endeavored to give practical
effect to those assurances
z. 1t Will be recalled that, Mt the
moment when His Majcsty's govern
ment announced their measures against
enemy commerce, they declared their
intention to refrain altogether from
the exercise of the right TO confiscate
snips or cargoes. which belligerents
hao always previously claimed In re-
spect or breaches of blockade: that
unoer article Of the enactment Of
the llth OF March. it was expressly
provided that any person claiming TO
pe interested In goods placed In the
prize court In pursuance Of the pro
vision or that enactment. might forth
with issue writ against the proper
offlcer OF the crown. And tbus
10 remove all possible cause of lceitf-
mate grievances on account of delay:
and that finally specific assurance was
given TO the United States government
mat the instructions to be issued by
His Majesty's government to the fleet
and to the customs officials and execu-
tive officials concerned. would impress
upon them the duty of acting with the
utmost dispatch consistent with the
object in view
8. The above measures were all de-
signed to alleviate the burdens i'm
posed upon neutral sea borne com,nerce
in general. Various concessions over.
and those enumerated, have. moreover.
been made in favor Of the United
States citizens.
=. Thus His Najesty's government
have acted, as regards shipments of
American cotton. in accordance with
the provisions of an arrangement ar
rived at in direct collaboration with
representatives of American cotton in
terests. In accepting this scheme, the
principal representative of those in
terests described 1t as concedinr all