Jan. 30
Although the American Note to Great Britain was presented a full month ago, the question does not appear to have made much progress towards a settlement. Nothing, however, has happened to mar the essential friendliness of the spirit in which the Note was forwarded: whatever momentary sensation its appearance may at first have caused, comment on both sides of the Atlantic has revealed a welcome appreciation of the other party's position. The Note itself will excite general admiration at the skill with which it combines absolute frankness with absolute freedom from anything, suggestive of animus. It was drafted, we are told, by some of Washington's most able counsellors and minutely revised by President Wilson. But the lucid nature of the statement does not. unfortunately, do away with the complexity of the whole case. What Great Britain can do to avoid unnecessary interference with American commerce that, as Sir Edward Grey has already answered, America can rely on her doing. But she cannot forgo the vital advantage which command of the sea gives her in her life and death straggle. Suggestions have been made that cargoes certified free of contraband by British Consuls in American ports might be exempt from search. That practice, it is said. would expedite shipments: but in so far as contraband might he shipped at sea, we may well believe the report that the British Government refuses to give any guarantee that even certified cargoes will be exempt from search.
'The crux of the question consists principally in copper ant foodstuffs. With regard to the latter, the Note quotes a ruling' of Lord Salisbury's during the Boer War as opposed to Great Britain's present practice. In respect of copper, it complains that Great Rritain seizes cargoes! destined for Sweden because that country has not forbidden the export of copper, and cargoes for Ttaly although she has forbidden it—thus proving herself inconsistent with her own rules. It is said that Washington has since suggested that Great Britain should make her own arrangements about copper with the neutral countries lying nearer the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.