The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-22
United States to Controvert Right of Great Britain to Enforce Blockade Against Neutral Countries
EFFORTS TO HELP
 COTTON SHIPPERS
 WERE NOT OFFICIAL.
Not Believed, However, That Another Protest Will Be Made to Allies Until Ger many Has Answered Note

Washington. May 2l.-President Wilson and his cabinet met today for the first time since they agthered 10 days ago and approved the note which the United States subsequently sent to Germany as a protest against the sinking of the Lusitania with the loss of more than loo American lives.
 In the absence of any definite news from Rerlin there was no discussion. 1t was understood, of the probable contents of Germahys reply.
 When the cabinet met there had been published here British foreign office memorandum saying the arrangements being made by Great Britain with Ameri- can cotton interests for disposition of their to the United states. Later Secretary Bryan gave out statement declaring that whatever had been done by state de- rartmoht representatives to assist the cot ton Interests had been of an unofficial character and was not "to be construed as a recognition of the order in council" ia- ! sued by Great Britain
 Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the British ann Lassador. issued statement tonight ex- blaming that this also was his understana- ing.
 No Reply Received
 The United States has received no re- ply to It's note of March ao in which tha 1 British order in council was declared ta be violation of international law. 1 In Nirw of continued detentions of American caigoes under the order In coun- cl further protest was prepared Il week before the i,usitauia disaster to ho | sent as seuN as ftiftfer data on inter- Terence With 'AmericaD shipring could he obtained In some official quarters it has been urged that the note be dispatched now because of the conviction 1t might convey to Germany of the purpose of tho United States to obtain an adherence 10 iilterna tional law hy the allies
 There was but huef discussion of the question today among cabinet officials and as President Wilson previously had resolved that the situation with Germany ought not 10 be complicated with any new correspondence with Great Britain it Is virtually certain the note will not be sent until after the German reply Is received.
 That the United States Is prepared to controvert further the right of Great
 
 against neutral countries. detaining car goes of noncontraband, was the intima- ton conveyed by Secretary Bryan's state- ment regarding the British foreign of flee memorandum.
 Secretary Bryans statement follows:
 The foreign trade advisers attention has been called to the statement of tha foreign office of Great Britain published ir this mornings papers, an. extract from which follows:
 T. In accepting this scheme, which it may be noted applied to ship ments of cotton for a neutral destination only, the principal representative of tho American cotton interests described to his majesty ambassador at Washington as conceding all that the American interests could properly ask. It never was sug- gested that vessels or cargoes with an enemy destination should be allowed to proceed. His majesty's government were moreover given to understand that the provisions of the arrangements were nr- ceptable to the United States govern ment.'
 "The plan referred 10 is the one which was entered into between the cotton ship Iers of this country and the British enl- bassy. portion of which is quoted in the statement of the British foreign of- flee
 Action Not Official
 Without discussing at this time the statement that it was never suggested that vessels or cargoes with an enemy destination should be allowed to proceed, the foreign trade advisers, who Informally and unofficially represented the cotton shippers in the negotiations which led up to the so-called cotton arrangement. state that it was distinctly understood between Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice, the British ambassador at Washington and Robert F. Rose. the foreign trade adviser conducting this discussion on behalf of the Ameri- can cotton exporters, that nothing dono
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