New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-18
BRITISH ASK
RULE ON U-53
Protest Held Up Pend
ing Announcement
by U. S.

London. Oct. 1.-THE raids OF the
U-53 off the American coast raised
very important issues. Britain ex-
poets the United States TO announce It's
attitude on such raids by German sub
marines. Until the American position
is defined the British government Will
not make any official representation to
the United States.
This statement Of the British stand
was made By Viscount Grey, Secretary
Of State for Foreign Affairs. in the
House Of Lords to-day in reply TO a
question raised by Baron Charles
Beresford, former commander OF the
British home feet, who criticises the
American reply to the Allied memo
randum on submarines and said the
American ideas of neutrality were Gu
rious.
Patrol Irritating to United States
In reply to a question concerning the
attitude of the United States toward
British patrols, Viseount Grey said the
United States admitted that British
ships were not exceeding their legal
rights under international law, but that
the American government complained
of their presence on the ground OF the
irritation which the continued pres
ence Of belligerent warships on the
coast OF the United States naturally
caused in a neutral country.
He declared the United States had
requested Great Britain very emphat-
ically not to patrol of its coast. and
said that instructions were sent to the
British ships there to avoid causing
any unnecessary irritation and to COM
ply as Far as possible with tho Ameri-
can request
with regard to the U.s. the For
eign Secretary continued, I'VE do not
know what steps were taken by the
United States for patrolling its waters
or in regard TO her coming into port
and securing information from news
papers.
Awaits American Announcement
"We do not know whether IT is true
that American warships got out OF tne
submarine's way. That Is matter Tor
the American government only, and we
assume that government is making fuil
INQUIRIES. We also assume II Will an
nounce its attitude in due course.
Pending that, we do not propose to
make any official representation on the
subject Of the submarine
The question concernin ing .he German
submarine raid in American waters was
raised by Baron Beresford, Earl Grey,
former Governor General OF Canada,
and others. Baron Beresford asked
whether British cruisers were removed
from American waters owing to Ameri-
can objections, and, II SO, what steps
the government proposed Tor the pro-
lection OF British vessels. lie wanted
an assurance that the report that
American commanders Of destroyers had
acceded to the request OF the German
submarine commander to clear OUT OF
the way and give him room to blow up
ships was untrue.
Correspondence Revealed
In reply to Lord Beresford's question,
the Foreign Secretary summarized the
correspondence between the United
States and Great Britain on this sub
feet since the beginning Of the war.
In September, 1914, the United States
took the first action, intercepting wire
less communications from British
cruiser 70 New York. asking for sup
plies. The view taken was that this
would be making use of United States
territory as base for supplies and in
formation.
In October OF the same year an un-
official communication reached the
British government, protesting against
the presence of British war vessels in
the vicinity of American ports. II the
practice was continued, the communi-
cation added, it might be construed as
an act Of unfriendliness, requiring
action by the United States.
This was followed by an official COM
plant in December, concerning the
shadowing Of a vessel along the Amer
lean coast by a British warship.
Called Patrol Uncourteous
"The complaint stated" said Wis
count Grey, that the British govern
ment was aware that the United States
government had always regarded the
practice Of belligerent cruisers patrol
ling the American coast in proximity
to the territorial waters OF the United
States and making the neighborhood
a station for their observations as In
consistent with the treatment to be
expected from the naval vessels Of q
friendly power In time OF war. and had
maintained that the consequent menac q
OF such proceedings TO the freedom Of
American commerce was vexstious and
uncourteous TO the United States"
Viscount Grey said the British gov
ernment had acted on the assumption
that the American view was still the
same as that expressed in dispatch re-
ccived in October. lS70-that the