Washington, Dec. 29. The American Government has sent a long Note to Great Britain insisting upon an early improvement of the treatment of American commerce by the British Fleet. It warns Great Britain that much foeling has been aroused owing to wnwarranted interference with legitunate trade, and says that the American Government feels compelled to ask for definite' information regarding the attitude of Great Britain, in order to take measures to protect the rights of American citizens, Numerous specific cases of detentions and seizures of cargoes are cited.
The Note declares that the representations are made in a frien spirit, but the United States considers it best to speak in terms of frankness, lest silence be considered to be acquiescence in a poli which infringed the rights American citizens, The chief difficulty is the moral effect of the practice on American exporters, who are restrained from taking risks which should not surround the legitimate trade of the United States and of other neutral countries, The Note adds, with reference to the detention of American ships at sea, that the American Government cannot tolerate undue delays to American ships caused by the examining or the convoying to British ports for detailed examination, and argues that proof of the hostile destination of cargo must be made clear at the time of search at sea; that the presumption of guilt cannot test with the neutral shippers and that the burden of proof must be imposed on the belligerent interfer: ing with that cargo, The Note is practically intended for all the members of the Triple Entente.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.