Evening star., 1915-06-25
To ORENEW PROTEST
IN NEW j. S. NOTE
Officials Here Regard British
Statement of Detentions
as Evasive.
WASHINGTON NOT READY
TO ACCEPT ITS PRINCIPLE
Next Letter to London to Insist
Nom -Contraband Cargo for Neu-
tral Port Shall Not Be Molested.

United States government officials to-
day had under consideration. in con-
nection with the new note which is 10
be sent to Great Britain concerning
delays to neutral commerce, mem
orandum from the British government,
700 words in length, made pubic in
England and in the United states this
morning. which is published elsewhere
in The Star today
Sufficient facts on detention and selz-
ure of American ships and cargoes by
the British feet have not yet been
gathered by the State Department TO
complete the new note to Great Britain
which has been under preparation sew
eral weeks.
Secretary Lansing disclosed today
that the portion of the note dealing
With the principles of the so-ealled
blockade had long ago been outlined.
but that officials had been absorbed in
getting data on American ships and
goods detained or seized. He inti-
mated that the note in its final form
would be presentation of the aca-
denaic principles involved in the block
ade as we'll as the British practice
under the order in council.
Total Detentions Not Stated.
Officials here regard the British
statement of detentions as evasiye.
The memorandum puts the total num-
ber of vessels still detained at
twenty-seven. Nowhere in the British
memorandum is a statement of the
total number Of detentions, which the
State Department estimates at almost
100 since the issue of the British order
in council -.arch /.
The new note to Great Britain will
doubtless direct special attention to
the British statement that of the TWEEN
ty-seven ships detained, seven are free
to depart as soon the items of their
cargo placed in the prize court have
been discharged"
Small Consolation Offered.
Washington is not ready to accept
the principle embodied in that state
ment and officials contend it is small
consolation for an American owner of a
valuable cargo. The note will insist
that a non-contraband cargo, consign-
ed to a neutral port. regardless of its
eventual destination, shall not be mo-
Tested.
The British memorandum. made pub
lie this morning, reviewing the efforts
TO minimize inconveniences to neutrals
will be acknowledged in the new note
and some of it's points will be dis
cussed, although it is recognized here
that the memorandum was not in
tended as a reply to the American pro-
in council, which Great Britain has not
answered.
To Minimize Inconveniences.
The British note today explains in
detail measures taken by the British
government to minimize inconvenience
to neutral commerce under the order
In council The claim is made, how
ever, that American citizens have no
just grounds for complaint on account
of the treatment accorded their car
goes
The United States. in its communica
renew its protest of March / against
the principles in the order in council
The British memrandum makes no at
Tempt to answer the principles assert
ed in the note of that date
The American note proba bly, will re-
fe- to the British memorandum, but 1t
is said today that the manner of en-
forcing the order ir council would not
he treated as relevant to the question
at issue whether there is any warrant
in international law for the powers
that Great Britain and her allies have
assumed to exercise over the commerce
of the world
Emphasizes Favors Shown.
In brief. the British memorandum
emphasizes the various favors shown
TO owners of cargoes sent abroad from
the United States: says that British
officials have acted with the utmost
dispatch in showing in every case
such consideration for neutrals as
might be compatible with the object
in view-to prevent vessels from carry
ing goods for, or coming from other
enemies territory-and points out the
earnest desire of Great Britain to re-
move all causes of unavoida BILE delay
in dealing with American cargoes and
vessels detained