The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-08
CONNOT SUBMIT To

CONTINUED from Sixth Iage)
aniading costs, etc.. lie paid by the
claimants on condition that they
sisp waiver of right to bring sub
segment claims against the British
government for these exnctious, This
government is ioaThe to believe that
such unEenerous treatment viii con-
tinue to be accorded American citi-
zens by the government Of His Britast-
mic Majesty, bat In order that the pos
tion Of the United States government
may he clearly understood. / take this
opportunity to inform Your Excellency
that this government denies that the
charges incident 10 suca detentions
are rightfu!ly imposed upon innocent
trade or that any waiver Of indemnity
exacted from American citizens under
such conditions OF duress can preclude
, them from obtaining redress through
diplomatic channels or by whatever
other means may be open TO them
Ineffective, Illegal and IndefensibIe
''t32i Before closing this note, In
which frequent reference n made to
contrnhand traffic and contrahand arti-
eies, II Ia necessary, in order to avoid
possshic s,iscons uction. that II should
he clearly understood by His Msj~st,'s
government that there Is Intention
. In this discussion TO commit the gov
eminent of the United states TO n
policy of watv,ng amy objections which
1t may entertain to the propriety
and right of the British government
10 include in their list OF e0ntrabspd
OF war certain articles which have been
so included. The United states gov
eramcnt reserves the rIRht to make
this matter the subject of a com NUM-
I cation 10 His Mnjesty's government Mt
"A later day.
''t"3t I believe ii has heen conclu-
siyefy shown that the methods sought
to be employed by Great Britain to
obtain and use evidence Of enemy der
tinnticn of cRrgOes bound for ncutrsl
rcrts and 10 impose a contraband char
acter upon such cargoes are withsat
Justification; that the blockade. npen
which such methods are partly found
ed. Is Ineffective. hlsaaf. and indef~n
sibfei that the Judicial procedure Of
fered a means OF reparatton for an
International injury in inherently de-
fecsive for the purpose: and that in
many enses jurssdisfton il asserted in
violation of the law of nations. Tht
United States. therefore, cannot sub
init to the eurtattment of it's neutral
rights by these measures, which are
admittedly r~taitatory. and therefore
ILLEGAL, in conception and in nature,
and intended to punish TIE en~nies ef
tIieKAlttissN
ON their part. The United stntes might
not he I'm position to object to the,-,
II its interests aud the interests of
all neutratn were unaffected by thep,,
but. being affected. 1t can not with
ccmPlacenee suffer further subordina-
ton OF Its rights and interests to tbs
plea that the exceptional georxraphle
position of the enemies of Great Brit
min require or Justify oppressive and
Illegal practices.
Insists Upon Established Rules
"t34) The government Of the United
States desires therefore. to impreAs
most earnestly upon His Matesty's
government that 1t must insist that the
relations between II and His Matesty's
government be governed. not by q poll
cy of eXpediency. hut ny those estab- ,
tished rules OF International conduct
upon which Great Britain In the mast
I'm. held the Emitted states to account
when the latter nation was u bellIxer-
emit engaged In u strugkie for national
existence. 1t IN of the highest fmpor-
lance to neutrais not only OF the pres-
ent day, but of the future that the
principles Of international right be
maintained untrapatred.
"t35) This tRsk Of champfonfps. the
integrity OF neutral rights. which have
received the sanction OF the civilized
world against the lawiess conduct OF
bestiser~nta arising out of the bitter
ness OF the great conflict which II
now waiting the countries Of Europe, ,
the United tsates uuheaitatingIy n..
sumes, ana to the accomplishment Of
that task 1t Will devote It's energies,
exercising always that impartiality /
which from the outbreak of the war !
1t has sought to exercise In it's reln-
tons with the warning nations.
Il enclose as supplements TO this
instruction the United States Navy Or
der of August IS, 1862. and a statemen.
regarding vessels detained by British
authorities. These two documents
should be transmitted as enclosures In |
your note to Sir Edward Grey
Il am, etc.
ROBERT LANSING.
Enclosures:
United States Navy Order of August
Is. 1852. and statement regarding
vessels detained by British authors
ties"
Awarded to w. r. Gregory.
Norfolk, Va Nov w Il. |
Gregory yesterday was awarded the /
contract for rebuilding and repairing
the roof and interior OF Christ /
Church. Contract for repairs to the I
organs was awarded to the Austen .
Organ Company OF Hartford. Conn.
at $4,000. The figures OF the !,
Gregory contract were not given out. i
]. Franklin Whitman, of Philadelphia, 4
arrived yesterday to make estimates