Resolved into its simplest expression, the complaint is a criticism of the way in which the doctrine of ‘continuous voyages’ has been applied by the British Government; but there is also a veiled criticism of the doctrine itself; and, by way of further complaint, it is pointed out that the embargoes which have been declared in certain countries have proved insufficient to prevent the doctrine being applied. As to the principle asserted that doubts are to be resolved in favour of neutral commerce, it has no warrant in common sense, for it puts a premium on the neutral merchant’s ingenuity, an ingenuity which has itself given rise to the doctrine of ‘continuous voyages.’ Seeing that commerce is in the balance against a nation’s existence, the doubt must obviously be resolved in favour of the more important consideration. The Note is also open to the general criticism that it is based on the position of the vendor and ignores the purchaser. But the true criterion of destination must often be found in the intentions of the neutral purchaser of which the neutral vendor may be ignorant. An interim reply was sent by the British Government on the 7th of January. It begins with a cordial concurrence in the general principle that a belligerent should not interfere with trade between neutrals unless such interference is necessary to protect the belligerent’s national safety, and then only to the extent to which this is necessary; with this qualification, however, that we shall endeavour to keep our action within the limits of this principle, on the understanding that it admits our right to interfere when such interference is, not with _bona-fide_ trade between the United States and another neutral country, but with trade in contraband destined for the enemy’s country, and we are ready, whenever our action may unintentionally exceed this principle to make redress. The figures showing the export of copper from the United States in 1913 and 1914 to Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland (‘countries which, though neutral, are contiguous to the nations at war’) are then compared, and their astonishing increases duly noted. The conclusion is very clear. With such figures the presumption is very strong that the bulk of the copper consigned to these countries has recently been intended not for their own use, but for that of a belligerent who cannot import it direct.