Evening star., 1915-01-11
BRITISH PAPERS
LAUD GREY'S NOTE
Declare United States Will
Come to See Merit in Pre-
mier's Contentious.
AMERICAN CONTRABAND
TRADE is ANALYZED
Editorials Declare Figures Prove
That Germany Was Getting
Neutrals' Cargoes.

LONDON, January Ii. 12:5. p.m.-The
London afternoon papers. commenting
on the reply of Foreign Secretary Grey
to the American note concerning un-
warranted interference with American
shipping, are unanimous in directing
attention to Great Britains debt OF
gratitude to the United States and her
desire to repay it by interfering with
American trade as little as is necessary
to secure the safety of this country and
her allies.
The papers take the ground that the
foreign secretarys facts and figures,
unless they can be explained or rebut-
ted, prove that enormous supplies nee
essary to the prosecution of the war
have reached the enemy under cover OF
neutral trade. The Westminster Ga
zette says:
"A bellgerent is guarding his own
interests. No obligation rests upon d
neutral to help q belligerent or to pre-
I vent the embarkation of contraband
We do not wish to throw the slightest
responsibility on the United States, but
in dealing with friendly neutral we
can in a variety of ways consult his
convenience, and the people of the
United States may be assured that we
the state of war to them. Closer CO.
operation between the two governments
will have good results"
The Pail Mall Gazette says:
Foreign Secretary Grey's reply was
just what every Briton will approve
who warmly desires the friendship of
the United States, but who also is de-
termined that no legitimate weapon
shall be sheathed which can be used
to bring the war to u speedy and sue
.cessful conclusion"
The Globe expresses the opinion that
Sir Edward Grey's frank and friendly
reply goes in some directions even fur
ther toward meeting the wishes of the
United States than some of us think
prudent"
The Globe suggests that the principal
trouble over the question of contra band
has arisen through the change in the
American practice and the present pro-
hibition of the publication of ships
manifests until thirty days after the
vessels have left American ports. In
this connection the paper says:
'If the consequent detention is IN
convenient and injurious to American
trade, the American government has
the remedy in its own hands,
Calls Note Candid Conciliatory.
In it's comment on Great Britains
reply to the United States governments
note concerning delays to American
commerce through the searching of
vessels by the British feet the Daily
Mail expresses confidence that the
American people will ungrudgingly
recognize many merits in Sir Edward
Grey's communication.
ut is prompt, candid, pertinent and
conciliatory," says the Daily Mail,
"and, while it does not profess to be
exhaustive, it brings most of the
American assertions and complaints to
the touchstone of fact. In. tone and
spirit it conforms to that ideal FRIEND
ly frankness which the United States
government suggested as the right
note"
There is little doubt, says the Daily
Mail, that the bulk of copper ship
ments to neutral countries since the
war began were destined for Germany,
and there is still less doubt that cop
per shipments not genuinely destined
for neutral countries should be stop
ped.
Indeed" the Daily Mail says in con-
clusion, when taken in conjunction
with the concessions he is able to an
nounce, Sir Edward Grey's reply will,
we believe, satisfy the American ma
ton that there is very little left for
two businesslike nations to differ