The Detroit times., 1915-01-11
WASHINGTON RE-
CARDS BRITISH REPLY
AS FRIENDLY Y
tcoatIau.d from Page one,

(ContInued from Page one.)
guide. but his majesty's government
has been most careful not TO interfere
with cotton and its place on the tre,
list has been scrupulously maintained
Not Conclusive.
We do not wish 20 lay too much
stress on incomplete statistics, the
conclusive and We are prepared 10 eN.
famine any further evidence with regard
\ 10 the state OF trade with these neutral
countries. which may point 10 dif-
the action OF his maJesty's government
In particular. and not the existence OF
a state OF war and consequent dimlnu
ton or purchasing power and shrink
age OF trade, which Is responsible for
adverse effects on trade with the neut-
raj countries.
on such a SCALE has had a very adyers G
effect upon certain great industries z,
submitted that this is due TO the-gen-
power OF such countries as France,
Germany and the United Kingdom.
rather than 70 interference with trade
with neutral countries. In the matter
! OF cotton, II may be recalled that the
British government gave special as
sistance through the Liverpool cotton
! exchange to the renewal OF transac-
| lions in the cotton trade OF not only
the United Kingdom. but or many neu-
trail countries.
! Your eXcellency's note refers in par
tIcular 10 the detention OF copper.
The ftgures taken from official re-
turns for the export OF copper from the
\ United States for Italy for the months
during which the war has been in pro-
gress up To the end OF the nrst three
weeks OF December are as follows:
| 1913. 15,2oo,oo0 pounds; 1914, 46,2s5.0oo
Norway. Sweden, Denmark and
switzerland are not shown separately
! for the whole period in the United
states returns, but are included In the
heading 'other European''-that is
Europe other than the United King
\ dom, Russia. France. Belgium, Austria.
Germany, Holland and Italy.
l. Copper Exports High. q
The corresponding figures under
this heading are as follows 1913.
J z Ell 900 pounds; 1914. b,347, 900 pounds.
with such figures, the presumption
/ is very strong that the bulk or copper
consigned 10 these countries has re-
Gently been intended. not for their
own use, but for that OF a belligerent
who cannot import IL direct IL 10
therefore an imperative necessity for
the safety OF this country while IL Is
at war that his maJesty's government
should do all In their power 10 stop
such part OF this shipment Of copper
as is not genuinely destined for neu-
trail countries
particular shipment OF copper TO Swe-
den which has been detained. There
are. however, IOAr COnSlEnmenlS ID
sweden at the present time OF copper
and aluminium, which. though definite
ly consigned 10 Sweden. are according
TO positive evidence In the possession
OF his maJestys government, definitely
destined for Germany
Confidence In United states.
81 cannot believe that with such fig-
ures before them and in such cases as
OF the United States would question
the propriety OF the action OF his ma
jesty's government In taking suspect
ed caTgoes 70 prize court and We are
convinced that II cannot be In accord
with the wish either OF the govern
ment or OF the people OF the United
in favor OF private interests so as TO
prevent Great Britain from taking
such legitimate means for this pur-
pose rs are in her power.
with regard 10 the seizure Of food
stuffs 20 which your eXCellency refers,
his maJesty's government are prepared
20 admit that foodstuns should not be
detained and put into a prize court
without presumption that they are in
tended for the armed forces or the
enemy government We believe that
tice hitherto. but, II the United States
government has instances 20 the con
trary, we are prepared % examine
them, and IL is our present Intention
TO adhere TO the rule. though we can
not give an unlimited and uncondi-
tional undertaking I'm view OF the de-
DdftuTe lnOEe against WuOU We dTe
hghting from hitherto accepted rules
OF civilization and humanity and the
uncertainty az 10 the extent to which
such rules may be violated by them In
From the ith OF August, last. to the
3rd OF January, the number OF steam
ships proceeding from the United
way, sweden and italy has been 773
| OF these there are 45 which have had
consignments OF cargoes placed in the
\ selves only eight have been placed In
! the prize court and one OF these has
| since been released
1T is. however. essential under mod
ern conditions that where there is real
ground for suspecting the presence OF
| contraband. the vessels should be
brought into port for eXamination. IN
| no other way can the right OF search
| be exercised. and but for this practice
II would have 10 be completely aban-
doued
Information was received by us that
1 special instructions has been given 10
ship, rubber from the United states IN
der. another designation 70 escape
/ in several Instances only py search
in port ran such cases when suspect
ed, be discovered and proved
The necessity for examination IN
port may also be- illustrated By typo-
II thetical instance connected with cot
ton which has not yet occurred Cot
ton Is not specifically mentioned IN
your eNceiieucys note. but have
seen public statements made in tive
United states that the attitude ot- i4g
maiestys government with regard 70
cotton has been ambiguous. and there
by responsible Tor depression In the
cotton trade
Allegations Denied.
There has never been any fOunda-
! ton for this allegation. Ills majestys
government have never put cotton on
the list 0f coutrabaud they have
throuehout the war Kept it\on the free
: list\and on every occasion When ques-
their Intention Of adhering ~ this
practice
But Information has reached us
! that. precisely because we have de-
clared our Intention of not interfering
: ! with cotton. shtps ~arrvfn,r cotton ,vIiI