Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-08-06
ENGLAND MAKES Her Reply
Holds That Her Interests Is the
Law.
MUST Be A BLOCKADE

Long Note Discusses Points Of Diff
ference as to Neutral Rights, Etc.
but Docs Not Admit Any Point Of
] Contention.
Washington, August 3.-Great Brit
aims replies to the latest American
representations against interferences
with neutral commerce reject entirely
the contention that the orders In
council are illegal and justify the
British course as being wholly within
international law.
"Unsustainable either in point OF
law or upon principles Of international
equity" is the British reply to the
American protest against the blockade
of neutral ports, with an invitation to
submit to international arbitration
any case in which the United States is
dissatisfied with the action Of British
prize courts.
Great Britain's reply in two notes,
was made public here tonight and In
London simultaneously by agreement
between the governments. With the
note was made public also the corre-
spondence over the American steamer
Neches, seized by the British while
en- route from Rotterdam to the United
States with goods Of German origin.
Changed Conditions.
Changed conditions Of warfare, the
British note contends. require a new
application Of the principles Of inter-
national law. The advent Of the sub
marine, the airship and the alleged
atrocities by German troops in Bel
gium are cited as justification for the
exercise Of extreme measures. The
blockade is justified on the contention
that the universally recognized funda-
mental principle Of a blockade Is that
belligerent is entitled to cut off by
effective means the sea-borne COM
merce Of his enemy"
The note reiterates that Breat Brit
ain will continue to apply the orders
complained of. although not without
every effort to avoid embarrassment to
neutrals, and observes that the Ameri-
can statistics show that any loss In
trade with Germany and Austria has
been more than overbalanced by the
increase Of other industrial activities
due to the war.
| Old Principles.
In the general reply to the American
representations against the orders In
council, Sir Edward Grey, the foreign
minister, addressing Ambassador Page,
begins by expressing the hope that he
may be able to convince the admins
tration at Washington that the meas
ures we-haye announced are not only
responsible and necessary in them
selves, but constitute no more than an
adoption Of the old principles Of block
ade to the peculiar circumstance with
which we are confronted"
"I need scarcely dwell" wrote Sir
Edward, ION the obligations incum-
bent upon the allies to take every step
in their power to overcome their COM
mon enemy in view Of the shocking
violation Of the recognized rules and
principles Of civilized warfare OF which
he has been guilty during the present
struggle"
Sir Edward refers to atrocities In
Belgium, poisoning Of wells in Ger
man Southwest Africa, use Of poison
Gus gases against the allied troops In
Flanders and the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania, to show "how Indispensable 1t
Is that we should leave unused no
justifable method Of defending our
selves"
| Allied Blockade.
| Taking up the question OF the allied
blockade Of neutral ports, the note
continues:
"In the various notes which l have
received from your e, cellency, the right
of belligerent to establish a blockade
Of the enemy ports Is admitted, a
right which has obviously no value
save in so far as 1t gives power to
belligerent to cut off the sea borne ex-
ports and imports Of his enemy. The
contention which 1 understand the
United States government now puts
forward is that IL a belligerent is so
circumstanced that his commerce can
pass through adjacent neutral ports as
easily as through ports Of his own
territory, his opponent has no right to
interfere and must restrict his meas
ures OF blockade in such a manner as
to leave such avenues Of commerce still
open to his adversary. This is con-
tention which his majesty's govern
ment feels unable to accept and which
seems to them unsustainable either in
point Of law or upon principles Of in
ternational equity.
| "They are unable to admit that a
belligerent violates any fundamental
principles Of international law by ap-
plying the blockade in such a way as
to cut off the enemy's commerce with
foreign countries through neutral
ports, II the circumstances render such
an application Of the principles OF
blockade the only means Of making 1t
effective. The government Of the Unit
ed States, indeed, intimates its readi-
ness to take into account the great
changes which have occurred in the
conditions and means Of naval warfare
since the rules heretofore governing
legal blockade were formulated and
recognize that the form Of close block
ade with it's Gordon Of ships in the i'm
mediate offering of the blockaded ports
is no longer practicable in the face OF
an enemy possessing the means and the
opportunity to make an effective de-
fense by the use Of submarines, mines
and aircraft
Apply the Test.
The only question then, which can
arise, in regard to the measures re-
| sorted TO for the purpose Of carrying