America.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 5

America.

MR BRYAN IN REPLY. NEUTRALITY AND CONTRABAND United Press 'Association. * New York, January 26. SenatoYv Stone, representing Missouri, where there is a large German population, adversely criticised the Government’s partiality for the Allies.

Mr Bryan lengthily replied. He defended the censorship of wireless as against cable communication, explaining that The former might he used hy warships at sea, making neutral territory a possible base for naval operations. He denied discrimination in the matter of trade in contraband. Some doctrines hearing harshly on neutrals were the outgrowth of the United States’ policy when she was a belligerent. Moreover, Britain’s control of the sea made it the duty of belligerents, not of neutrals, to prevent contraband reaching the enemy. The United States in the past had placed an embargo on articles useful for the manufacture of ammunition, and could not without embarrassment deal with the seizure of copper, although vigorous representation had been made to secure its release. It was also difficult to argue against the inclusion of petrol, rubber, and wool as contraband. America had no power to prevent the sale of ammunition to belligerents. Mr Bryan refuted conclusively the sale of huge quantities of dum-dums to England. The Government, he said, would disapprove of a war loan, as being inconsistent with neutrality. Also, the removal of money might embarrass the Government in case it needed to borrow'.

THE SALE OF THE DACIA. Loudon, January 26. Noldeke, a jurist, in an article in the Cologne Gazette, referring to the Dacia,* says it is doubtful whether the change of flag will be recognised under German law. The German prize regulations provide that a change of flag must not be recognised by German war ships if the commander is convinced that the transfer would not have taken place without the outbreak of war. A TEST CASE PENDING. London, January 26. The Morning Post says a test case is preparing, which, if allowed to proceed, will prove more serious to the Allies than the Dacia case, namely, the case of the Wilhelmina, from New York, a vessel reputedly Germanowned, which was allowed to clear for Hamburg with food supplies for, allegedly, the civilian population. The consignee is an American resident of Germany. The presumption is that if the food is consumed by civilians, it releases an equal quantity for the troops.

SCHWAB SHIPBUILDING SCHEME SECRETS KNOWN TO THE ENEMY Ottawa, January 2G. The Charles Schwab shipbuilding concern has abandoned the scheme to build submarines in the United States. He recently transferred his ship, building plant to Montreal, owing to the United States’ Cabinet considering the contract with the British Government a breach of neutrality. Mr Schwab’s partner states that although every secrecy was maintained regarding Schwab’s negotiations with the British Admiralty, Mr Schwab found when he returned to New York that Mr Bryan knew the whole of the details and he informed Mr Schwab that he had learned these through Count Bernstorff. the German'Ambassador.