BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2369, 27 January 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES.

"DRIFTING TOWARDS A COLLISION" > , LONDON "SPECTATOR" ALARMED London, January 2S. The "Spectator" expresses alariii at the way Britain and the United States are i drifting towards the danger of - a collision. While praising the good feeling shown by prominent American citizens, the "Spectator" deplores the callousness of the Washington.authorities towards the British cause, comparing the present situation with that when •John Blideli and James Murray Mason were arrested in_ 1861, when British statesmen were just as much at fault as_ American statesmen are now. l'he "Daily Chronicle," commenting on the article, deprecates its alarmist tone, pointing out that ''-tlie relations with Washington are exceedingly cordial, and predicts that they will easily Dear the strain of the Dacia incident. *The reference is to two American politicians >vho were sent to France as i Confederate Commissioners in 1861. ■ They W6i;e arrested oil the British vessel Trent by Captain Wilkes (of the United States Federal and imprisoned at Boston. On their release they sailed for Europe, but failed to secure the recognition of the French Government for the Confederate States. Tho disavowal of Captain Wilkes's act by the United States Government prevented serious complioations arising between the United States and Great Britain. The "Dacia incident" has. arisen in connection with the departure from an American port of the HamburgAm erika liner Dacia for Germany. The American authorities, in spite of a British protest, authorised her to sail, taking the risk of being captured by British warships. A TEST OASE. (Reo. January 26, 10.40 p.m.) London, January 26. . The "Morning Post" says that a test case is being prepared, which, if allowed, will be more injurious to the Allies than tho Dacia case, namely, the case of the steamer, Wilhelmina, of New York, which is reputedly German owned. ! This vessel cleired for Hamburg with food supplies for, allegedly, the civilian population in Germany. . The consignee is all American resident in Germany. The presumption is that food consumed by civilians will release an equal quantity of food for the troops. • , DACHA'S CHANGE OF FLAG. (Rec. January 27, 0.45 a,m.) LOndOri, January 20. Here Noldeke, a jurist, in an article ia the ''Cologne Gazette" referring to the Dacia case, says it ■is doubtful whether a change of flag would be recognised by German hw. The German Prize Regulations provide that a change of flag must not be recognised by German warships if the oommander is convinced that the transfer would not have taken place Unless on the outbreak of war. STATEMENT BY MR. BRYAN THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. (Rec. January 26, 9.30 p.m.) New York, January 26. Senator Stone, representing Missouri, where there is a-large German population, adversely criticised the United States Government's partiality to the Allies. >. Mr. W. J. Bryan (Secretary of State) lengthily replied. He defenedd the censorship of wireless messages as against cable communication, as the former could be used by warships at sea, thus making neutral territory a possible base for naval operations. He denied th'at there was discrimination in trade in contraband. Some of the doctrines which bore harshly on the neutrals were the outgrowth of United States policy when she was a belligerent. Moreover, Britain's control of the sea made it tho duty of belligerents, and not 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. "I cannot, without embarrassment, deal < with the seizure of oopper, although vig- i crous representations had been made to secure the release. It was also diffi-. I cult to argue against tlio inclusion of 1 petrol, rubber, and wool as contraband. America had no power to prevent the sale of the ammunition to belligerents." * Mr. Bryan refuted conclusively tho statement regarding tho sale of huge quantities of duiii-cltim bullets to England. Tho Government disapproved of a War loan as being inconsistent with its attitude of neutrality. Also, the l'e- . moral of money might embarrass the | Government in case they needed to borrow.". . ( BITTER AN'TI-AMKTMCAN FEELING ! ■IN BERLIN. ] London, January 25. c Danish messages state that feeling in 1 tvrli.n hniiinNf. tfvs TJsutcd Status in very •Wikw;. The Ctetaaas Wfe

American oriticism of the air raid, and accuse tho United States of wholesale trading with the Allies. GERMANY PROTESTS TO UNITED STATES hydro-aeroplanes for allies. Washington, January 25. • Germany has vigorously protested against America shipping hydro-aeio-plaaes to tho Allies. She relies on The Hague Convention, Articlo 8; Gcr- ' many has decided to intern the Amon- | can coliior Porto Rico (1257 tons). Article 8, referred to in the above meSßage, is obviously that olause in j the Hague Convention rotating i exclusively to neutrality in naval warfare. The Germans apparently, con-| sider that the language of t'tw oihubo can be interpreted to include within ita operations hydro-aeroplanes, it reads: "A neutral Government, is bound to use the_ means at its disposal t<j prevent, within its jurisdiction, the equi]> ping or arming of any .yessel which it has any reasonable suspicion of being destined to act as a cruiser or to join in hostile operations against a Power with which it is at peace." < ..It.is.also bound in the same terms.!,to prevent the departure of any such vessel.