Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-11


Great Br;tain had made the concession requ,f-
ed Of her; as If, after al tbat has passed On
the snbiect, after the establishment and regret
of His Alajesfy's government at he Cnrca
S:sres having taken up the view which the
French government presented OF our JUST and
legitimate principles of blockade which are
exempiiied in the blockade of May 1906, the
whole ground taken by His alalesty,s govern
ment was at once abandoned. When | had
the honor to exhibit to rgi my instructions,
and 70 draw up as conceived according TO
YOUR wishes and those Of the President, state
1nent Of the mode in which that blockade wohid
probably disappear, never meant TO autno-
rise such conclusion. and | now beg most
uI,cquiyocaiIy to eiscIain It the blockade
of Nav, 1906, viii not continue AFTER tie re-
peal Of the Orders in Council, unless his
Majesty's government shall think Mt to :us-
tainit By the special application OF a sufficient
naval force, ar.i the fact of It's being so conti-
nued OF rot, will be notified at the time. IL
In this view OF the matter, which Is certainly
presented In conciIatcry spirit. one OF TIE
Obstacles to complete understanding between
our countries Cab be removed BY the United
States government waving all further refer
ence to thst blockade when they can be JUST
fed in asking repeal Of the orders, and /
may communicate this to my government, It
will undoubtedly be very satisfactory but
beg distinctly to disavow having made any
acknowledgment that the blockade would cease
merely in consequence of a revocation OF the
Orders in Council; whenever it does cesse, It
viii cease because there will be no adequate
force applied to maintain it.
On another very material point, sir, you ap-
pear to have misconstrued my words; Tor IN
no one passage of my letter can discover any
mention of innovations on the part of Great
Britain such as you say excited painful sur
prise in your government. There Is ne new
pretension set up by His Majes.,'s govern
ment. In answer to questions Of yours as TO
what were the de crees or regulations ofFrance
which Great Britain complained of. and "a
g;,iust which she direct. her retaliatory mea-
sures, brought distinctly into your view the
Berlin and Milan DEGREES, and you have lot
denied, because. indeed, you could not, that
the provisions of those DEGREES were new mea-
sures of war on the part OF France, achnow-
lodged as such by her ruler, and contrary TO
the principles and usages Of civilized nations.
That the present war has been oppressive be-
yond example by its duration, and the desc
latiop it spreads through Europe | willingly a.
gree with you, but the United States cannot
surely mean to attribute the cause to Great
Britain. The question between Great Britain
and France, is that of an honorable struggle
against the lawlcss efforts of an ambitious ty-
rant, and America can but have the wish Of
every independent nation as to its result.
On third point, sir. have also 20 regret
that my meaning should have been mistaken.
Great Britain never contended that British
merchant vessels should be allowed to trade
with her enemies, or that British property
shoald be allowed entry into their ports, as
you would infer sucha pretension would in
deed be preposterous but Great Britain does
contend against the system of terror put in
practice by France, by which, usurping au-
thority wherever her arms or the tinidity of
nations will enable her to extend her influence,
she makes Ii crime to neutral countries as
well as individuals that they should possess
articles however acquired which may have
been once the produce of English industry or
of the British soil. Against such an abomi-
nable aud extravagant pretension every feeling
must revolt, and the honor no less than the
interest of Great Britain engages her TO oppose
it. f>5fs
Turning to the course of argument contain
ed in your letter, allow me to express my
surprise al the conclusion you draw in consi-
dering the question of priority relative'to the
French DEGREES or British orders in council.
1t was clearly proved that the blockade of
May 1906, was maintained by an adequate ma
val force, and therefore was a blockade found
ed on just and legitimate principles, and
have not heard that it was considered in a
contrary light when notified as such to you by
Mr.. Secretary Fox, nor until it suited the
views of France to cndeavor to have it consi-
dered otherwise. Why America took up
the view the French government chose to give
of it, s could see in it grounds for the French
DEGREES, was always matter of establishment
in England.
Your remarks on the notifications at vari-
GUS times of our system of retaliation will re-
quire the less reply from the circumstance of
the order in council of April 1909, having SUI
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