The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-04
BRITISH JUSTIFY
q "a consequences of the submarine

fcontinusd From First Page.)
II
kken in consequence Of the submarine
areaf Britain's reply to the United
kates note of March 81, in which the
nfted states stated its objections to
krtain interferences with neutral trade
Bparentiy contemplated by Great Brit
n under the orders In council. was
kade public today. This note constt-
bites Great Britain's chief defense OF
he practices against which the United
tates complains.
Text Of Note.
ambassador w. II. Page to the Score
tary Of State.
American Embassy. London,
July -. 1915.
Following, note, dated July 20. re-
bived from Sir Edward Grey THIS
corning:
ION the I'd of April Your Exceliency
anded TO me copy OF communi
fation containing the criticisms OF inc
United States government on the meas
res we have been constrained TO take
account of tho menace to peaceful
bmmerce resulting from the German
,bmarine policy. This communication
Ia received the most careful consid-
Ration of His Matesty's government.
"2. 1 fully appreciate the friendly
brit and the candor which are shown
fhe communication. and. replying in
he same spirit, trust that ! may be
BILE to convince Your Exceilency and
80 the administration at Washington
hat the measures we have announced
te not only reasonable and necessary
themselves. but constitute no more
han an adaptation Of the old principles
blockade to the peculiar circum-
tances with which we are confronted.
Must Use All Possible Means.
70. / need scarcely dwell on the OBJ
gation Incumbent upon the allies to
Ike every step In their power to over
bme their common enemy in view Of
s shocking violation of the recognized
sles and principles OF civilized war
ire of which he has been guilty dur
liz the present struggle. Your Elk
eilency's attention has already been
rawu to some of these proceedings in
he memorandum which I handed to
pu on the 10th OF February. Since
hat time Lord Bryce's report. based
evidence carefully sifted by legal
kperts. describing the atrocities COM
Tilted In Belgium. the poisoning OF
ellis in German Southwest Africa, the
ee Of poisonous gases against the
oops In Flanders, and finally the sink
3g Of the Lusitania without any OPP
prtunity to passengers and noncom-
htants 10 save their lives. have shown
bw indispensable IL 10 that we should
ave unused NO justinable method CT
blending ourselves.
Legftimaey Of Measures.
~. Your Exceilency win remember
kat In my notes Of the 18th and l5ta
March I explained that the allied
pvernments intended TO meet the Ger
an attempt to stop all supplies IF
tery kind from leaving or entering
Fttish or French ports by themselves
tercepting goods going TO or from
ermany. I read the communication
|om Your Exceiiency's government,
pt as questioning the necessity for our
king all the steps open to US to Grip
10 the enemy's trade, but as directed
biely to the question OF the Legitimacy
the particular measures adopted.
"S. In the various notes which |
1--we received from Your Excellency.
e right of n belilgerent to establish
blockade OF the enemy ports is ad
lifted. a right which has obviously
value save In so far as q gives
bwer TO a beiiiyerent to cut OF the
a-borne exports and imports of the
henry. The contention which / under
land the United States government
bw puts forward Is that IL a beilig-
kent in 80 circumstanced that his com =
cree can pass through adjacent nei-
|al ports as easily as through ports
hts own territory. hts opponent has
b right to interfere and must restrict
il measures of blockade in such n
amer as to leave such avenues OF
Ass 81.
his is a contention which His Ma
|sty's government feels unable TO ac-
pt and which seems to them unsus-
kinable either in point of law or upon
tfnciples Of international equity. They
70 unable TO admit that q belligerent
loiates any fundamental principle OF
|ternational law by applying a block
be In such a way an to cut out the
hsmy's commerce with foreign coun-
HES through neutral ports II the cir
hmstances render such an application
the principles OF blockade the only
cans of making It effective. The gov
+nment OF the United States indeed
inmates it's readiness to take into ac-
bunt the great changes which have
ecurred In the conditions and means
NAVAL warfare since the rules hith-
TO governing legal blockade were
Irm Of close blockade, with it's Gordon
ships In the immediate offing Of the
|ockaded ports. Ii no longer practf-
khle In the face of an enemy possess
ID the means and opportunity to make
effective defense by the use of sub
arines, mines and aircraft
~. The only question, then, which
In arise In regard to the measures
sorted to for the purpose of carrying
bit . blockade upon these extended
mes 10 whether, to use Your Excel
|ncy's words, they conform to the
brit and principles Of the essence of
10 rules of war and we shall be con-
Int to apply this test to the action
hich We have taken In so far as II
20 necsssitated interference with neu-
al commerce.
Quote American Precetients.
~. 1t may be noted In the circum-
anccs that at the time of the Civil
far the United States found them
lives under the necessity of declaring
blockade OF some 5000 miles OF
bast line, a military operation for
hitch the number Of vessels available
&c at first very small. 1t was vital
the cause of the United States In
ut great struggle that they should
able to cut Off the trade OF the
buthern States The Confederate
-mies were dependent on supplies
(om overseas. and those supplies
build not be obtained without export
10 the cotton wherewith to pay for
Ism. To cut OF this trade the United
aees could only rely upon block