London, Jan. 10.
Bir Edward Grey, Beoretary for Foreign Affairs, in " Note sent in reply to the Note presented to Great Britain by the United States, says: "We entirely recognize the very friendly spirit in which your representations are Our reply is made in the same spirit and with the same frankness, which will beet serve to contin: nance, of the cordial relations exist. ing between Great Britain and Americs.""
The British Note concurs with the principle that a belligerent deal. ing with the trade between neutrals should not interfere with that trade unless it is necessary to protect the national safety of the helligerent. Great Britain will endeavour to adhere to this principle on the understanding that it admits. the right to interfere when trade is not bond file between United States and a neutral country, but is contraband destined for the enemy. Great Britain is ready to make redress when her action unintentionally exceeds this principle.
The Note states that misconcep. tion exists as to the extent to which it haa been the practice to interfere with trade. It then quotes figures] showing that the imports from America during 1914 into Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Italy enor mously exesed those of 1913, while the imports from America ato Holland were about the same, consequently, in view of such figures, Great Britain cannot believe that the United States would question the propriety of Great Britain taking suspected cargoes to the Prize Court.
"Our endeavour is, in the interests of national safety, to prevent neutrals becoming a base of supplies for our enemies and to intercept goods really destined for the enemy without interfering with goods which are hond fide neutral.'
The Note concludes by stating that Great Britain would gladly enter into an agreement by which mistakes could be avoided and reparation promptly secured when any injury ie done to neutral own. ers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.