Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-02
NO PRESSURE BY
GREAT BRITAIN,
SAYS Mr.. BRYAN
Secretary Of State and Floor
Leader Underwood Deny That
Foreign Powers Have Made
Representations,


Washington. Feb. J. lnsistent
statements today BY Representative
Mann ana other republican leaders in
the house that the state department
has In its possession a note or let
ter from Great Britain regarding the
pending ship purchase Mil brought
forth dehials from both Majority
Leader Underwood and Secretary
Bryan.
The note was alleged to have been
from Sir Edward Grey declaring the
proposed purchase II German or Aus
irian shius an unneuhal act.
During the day Secretary Bryan
made a formal statement:
1T is not proper for the state de-
partment az this time TO discuss the
manner In which the authority confer
red hy the bill viii or should be ex-
ercised. We assume that the author
iiy conferred upon the president and
those who viii be associated with him
in the matter VIII be exercised prop
erly and with due regard TO the ma
tons welfare"
when Representative Underwood
denied the existance Of the talked Of
note, Representative Mann said he
had no doUat Of the majority leaders
sincerity. but was afraid the state
department was not entirely frank
with him.
Mann l. Insistent.
Information has come 10 me,
said Mr.. Mann. Gin way which ]
think makes il reliable that the stale
department not only has had COM
municatlon on the subject but that
that department has had a letter on
the subject from an official ot the
British government"
Mr.. Underwood repeated his denial
when Mr. Mann suggested that the
representations might have been made
though mot in writing"
III might have been thousand
things, replied the democrats leader.
the bin pending in the senate has not
one line in it that compels the pur-
chase q German ship or informed
ship Of the allies. II leaves il dis
cre,ionary with the board TO be ap-
pointed"
Declines 10 Answer.
Representative Lenraof Of Wssc0n-
sin. snFres;ea that Mr.. Underwood
make another inquiry or the depart
ment when Representative Cullop in
formed The house Of the formal denial
issued by Mr. BRYAN. Representative
Gardner of Texas. asked Mr.. Under
wood whether the British ambassador
in discussing the subject did So on in
struetion from his government Mr..
Underwood said he did not think 1t
necessary 80 answer further questions
In his conference with the newspaper
men late today Secretary Bryan was
asked numerous questions about the
alleged note. He was asked II he
had discussed the alleged noie.
Hc was asked If he had discussed the
sul iects involved in the shipping bill
with any representative Of any for
eign government
No Sach Discussion.
"a am not willing. replied the Sec
retary. TO discuss with any foreign
government the manner in which
the power II conferred. win De exer-
eised.
The secretary was asked Il anY Of
the foreign governments had present.
ed their views regarding the transfer
81 ships he said he did not care To
1 discuss the questions that were mot
connected with this particular propo-
sition,a and intimated that published
reports had associated notes received
some time ago on various phases Of
the shin registry question with an APP
/ piicstion - the pending Hill.
While yon we're away" the secre-
targ MAS teld. the statement was
( made shaE the British arnhassa dor had
said e sou that the British govern
ment w0ni6 lock upon the transfer
81 any vessel ROW interned in Arnsrs-
can paTts-tseymaR and Austrian res
. sels-as sn unneutral Sct.
Go "a the person who gave vca
that statement and lat him coafsru. r
NJ Rrzan suggested.
II the rrilish embassy Ssr ceca
/ Srring- Elcs refused 60 see newsrarer
men q slscHsz ia Pasl.sAes repsszs