The United States Government has sent a protest, dated January
10th, against interference with American mails to Europe. It is stated that British authorities removed seven hundred and thirty-four bags of mails from the Danish steamer
Oscar IL' en, route from the United States to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark ; and fifty-eight bags from the Swedish ship ' Stockholm ' en, route from Gothenburg to New York. We give only these two examples ; several others are mentioned. The American Government says that it is unable to admit the right of the British authorities forcibly to bring into port neutral vessels plying directly between America and neutral European ports and to remove or censor mails carried by them. The result of British action is said to be that public, opinion is being aroused in the United States by the loss of valuable letters, and that foreign banks are refusing to cash American drafts. The American Government " very urgently presses " for an " effective remedy." Sir Edward Grey has informed Washington that he must consult with our allies before he can send an answer to the protest. It must be added that the search of the Stockholm' has revealed the presence of a hundred and forty-two tons of meat, which, although originally entered upon the ship's manifest, had afterwards been struck out. In a brief' statement on the subject the Foreign Office dryly remarks that the fact "cannot but give rise to suspicion that some fraud was intended."
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