America

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 174, 31 December 1914, Page 5

America

I UNITED STATES "DEMANDS." ALLEGED DISC .UM[NATION. London, December 20. Renter states Unit America lias demanded mi early improvement in the British fleet's treatment of American commerce. Renter's Washington correspondent says that the American Note cites numerous cases of detention and seizure, and warns Britain and France that much feeling has been aroused by what is characterised as an unwarrantable interference, with legitimate trade. The Government was paticit at the outbreak of war, but there hat been no improvement in five months. Although ship- ! pel's have adopted Britain's various suggestions the British fleet has not differentiated between absolute and conditional contraband. The Government cannot tolerate undue delays in examining, and the diverting of ships into the ! ports of belligerents merely on suspicion. I Proof of a hostile destination must be j prevented at the time of search. ' The Note charges Britain with detain- | ing American copper consignments, while Scandinavian consignments to Italy arc not molested. The burden of proof ] must be imposed on the belligerents. The Note refers to Britain's high prin- | ciples in the past in championing the ' freedom of the seas. It makes the | protest in a friendly spirit, W. considers it best to be frank, lest silence be conj sidered acquiescence in the infringment of American rights. PRESIDENT WILSON ASKS FOR HONESTY. i Received 30. f1.25 p.m. I Washington, December 30. J Referring to the Note concerning the j I neutral trade, President Wilson inti- , mates that he will be able to deal con- j j fluently in the matter of contraband only ' j if mpported "by an absolutely honest ■ j manifesto. Groat embarrassment has ! I bee.i caused to the Government because [ ! some shippers concealed contraband in j cargoes of non-contraoand articles, for I j example, under cotton. As long as there; were instances of that kind sus- I I picion would be cast on every shipment j and all cargoes would be liable to search'. I NO HOSTILITY TO ENGLAND. i FORMAL BLUFF. j •. PRO-GERMANS WOULD FORCE THE | PACE. ! Received 30, !).215 p.m. | New York, December 30. I The evening papers commend the Note, but the Sun warns England's enemies that the Note does not indicate hostility to England. The Daily Telegraph's Washington correspondent says that President Wilson's whole idea in protesting was to lay the foundation for indemnities at the close of the war. Meanwhile the United States will continue to file protests at each seizure, diversion, or detention. Washington, December 30. Cabinet discussed the whole question of the Note sent to Britain, and promised the South American diplomats copies, owing to the interest of the Republics in the question. Non-official quarters hotly discussed reprisals against Britain. Some Congressmen suggested an embargo against shipment to the Allies of products which the United States considered legitimate articles of trade, but which Britain and France refused to allow to reach the enemy. Sir C. A. Spring-Rice (British Ambassador) refused to comment on the day's developments. The Press is vigorously discussing the question, interest therein overshadowing the war. German sympathisers in the Press urge the. United States to take the strongest possible action against < Britain. 1 Ottawa, December' 30. I Mr. Aylesworth, ex-Minister of Justice, opines that the United States' action is merely playing to the gallery. The whole question had probably been settled • already between Britain and the United States, but the latter was obliged to do something to satisfy the powerful interests affected. HOW BRITAIN VIEWS IT. NO DIFFICULTY IN ADJUSTMENT. Received 31, 12.55 a.m. London, December 3fl. Awaiting the text of President Wilson's Note, and accepting the assurance of its friendly tone throughout, the newspapers rely on the fairness of American opinion to ensure a common-sense adjustment of an admittedly thorny question in a spirit of mutual goodwill. After remarking that the American newspapers have consistently grasped the fundamental fact that the ideals for which we are fighting are theirs no less than ours, the Times confidently anticipates a modus vivendi which, while in accordance with the principles of international law, will meet the truly unprecedented features of this war, and enable the exercise to the uttermost of all legitimate means of coercion of the enemy. AMERICA SHOULD FIGHT. GERMAN VICTORY A MENACE. Washington, December 29. Mr Toultney Bigelow, through the press, warns America that if Germany wins she is sure to create trouble in thv South American Republics, where thousands of Germans arc now living. Germany's persistent ridicule of the Monroe Doctrine was based on the desire, to ignore and dispute it once Britain's support of it was demolished. Even if Germany was defeated she was sure to cherish revenge and would probably seek expansion in South America as a set-off to her defeats in Europe and the Joss of her colonies in Africa and the Pacific. Before America had time to think Germany's flag would be easily planted in South America and German submarines would be studying marine geology throughout the West Indies. Mr Bigelow recalls how Britain threw her neutrality to the' winds when Ad- • miral Dewey was menaced in the Far East !n-IS!W by the German naval Wee

Philippines and Britain lias stood between the United States and Germany ever since. Mr Bigelow urges the United States to participate in the present struggle in order that the Monroe Doctrine may become part of the world's public law.' THE CONSULS IN BELGIUM. GERMANY RATHER HASTY. Washington, December 29. The Belgian Minister states that the Belgian Government has protested against Germany's, refusal to recognise consuls accredited to Belgium . ' ll,■ points out that Germany is seeking to take over the actual sovereignty" of Belgium while really only in de facto possession. Until a peace treaty settles the status of the conquered country a dc facto government has no right to issue exequaturs (official permits) to consuls. New York, December 29. Most students of the immigration problem opine that a severe labor famine will follow the war, and that the proposed further restrictive legislation will inflict incalculable injury on the nation.