Of course, the Government had no such purpose and has done no such thing--with any such purpose.

It isn't thinking about trade but only about war.
The English think they see in this the effect on our Government and on American opinion of the German propaganda.

I have had this trade-accusation investigated half a dozen times--the accusation that this Government is using its military power for its own trade advantage to our detriment: it simply isn't true.

They stop our cargoes, not for their advantage, but wholly to keep things from the enemy.

Study our own trade reports.
In a word, our importers are playing (so the English think) directly into the hands of the Germans.