Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-03
Wilson Awaits British
Reply To First Note


/ lean government, because he had not
thoroughly diEested the contents of
the communications, though appar-
entity they seemed 70 establish a
blockade He pointed out that the
notes had merely defined in general
terms a policy 10 be pursued by the
allies without stating the means Of
enforcing that policy. To make this
clear for the United States, the presi-
correspondence with Great Britain
and France.
About Rules of War.
The president made clear his belief
that while the conditions of war
might have changed, no nation had a
right to change the rules of war.
From this il was generally inferred
that the American government would
insist upon a position frequently eX-
pressed by its officials, that whatever
might be the violation of the customs
of war as between belligerents this
could not affect the status Of interna-
tional law as between the United
States and countries with which she
was at peace.
The general pressure of business
incident TO the closing Of congress
occupied the cabinet meeting for the
most part. but the notes from Great
Britain and France and their effect
on American exports was discussed to
some extent
Some high officials thought that If |
England proclaimed n blockade and |
would make 10 effective there could |
be no legal objection from the United |
States, no matter how much its COM |
merce suffered. lnasmuch as the /
present step falls short of such
move, I'm that all commerce Is to be
interrupted without specifying the
zone OF operations or radius of action.
the general belief of officials was that
the United states would be obliged to
enter vigorous protest
Officials AT the state department
are studying the Anglo French dec
larations with view TO advising the
president of the rights OF neutrals.
which II seems to transgress.
Century Old Precedent
The difficulties of the present stu
alton suggested 10 officials similar /
conditions which existed century !
,go. Under what was known as the !
continental system" Napoleon's Z
'lan for shutting England out from {
III connection with the continent Of /
europe, a series of retaliatorv meas !
Tres were practiced which subse- !
.uently involved In the war countries \
previously neutral. I
Constanun Brun, Danish minister.
allied at the state department during
he day for information on the situ- .
ton. lie said he thought shipping
o and from his country would not he n
1terfered with by the latest decree. :
nd that the commerce OF neutral h
ountries would 20 on practically as n 4
as since the outbreak OF the war. He d
ointed out that Denmark already has $
mbargoed re-cNportatiOn OF ali the z
ruclcs declared as Contraband by the r.
HES and that little or no commerce n
nming out Of Denmark originates i'm
ermany. A
Swedish Minister Ekengren also :,
,ught Information at the departtuent II
'nccrning the allies decree Ia,
Gcrmany's Reply Published. Il
Germany's reply to the American u
ote. although published In the press W
the country. has not been officiatly %
viewed AZ the White House. NJ
The reply declares Germanv's read "a
ess 10 accept virtually all Of the oi
nerican proposals except the ono
hich would restrict the usa ~
iehored mines 90 purely defensive n
irposes. The German government a,
presses the belief that bellirersnfs II,
nnot afford 10 abandon entirely tha IN,