The Washington herald., 1915-01-01
u. S. NOTE TO BRITAIN
COUCHED In FIRM WORDS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

trade. that peace, not war, is the normal
relation between nations and that the
commerce between countries which are
not belligerents should not be interfered
with by those at war unless such inter-
ference is man!fCstly an imperative neces-
sity TO protect their national safety and
then only to the extent that il is a neces-
sity. 1t is with no lack Of appreciation
OF the momentous nature of the present
struggle, in which Great Britain is en-
gagged. and with no selfish desire to gain
undue commercial advantage that this
government is reluctantly forced to the
conclusion that the present policy of his
majesty's government toward neutral
ships and cargoes exceeds the manifest
necessity of a belligerent and constitutes
restrictions upon the rights of American
citizens on the high seas which are not
justified by the rules of international law
or required under the principle of self
preservation.
British Policy Confusing.
The government of the United States
does not intend at this time to discuss
the propriety Of including certain articles
in the lists Of absolute and conditional
COntraband. which have been proCIa nde
by his majesty. Open to objectiCI as
some of these seem to this govern lent.
the chief ground OF present conn.,. mt Is
OF articles when bound TO neutral ports.
Articles listed as absolute cOntraband.
shipped from the United States and con-
signed to neutral countries, have been
seized and detained on the ground that
the countries to which they were des-
tined have not prohibited the expectation
of such articles. Cnwarranted as such
detcntions are, in the opinion of this gov
ernment, American exporters are further
perpieXed by the apparent indecision of
the British authorities in applying their
own rules to neutral cargoes. For eX-
ample, a shipment of copper from this
country to a specified consignee in Swe-
den was detained because, as was stated
by Great Britain, Sweden had placed no
embargo on copper On the other hand,
Italy not only prohibited the export of
copper. but. as this government is in
formed, put in force a decree that ship
ments to italian cOnsignees or ito order"
which arrive in ports of Italy cannot be
exported or transhpped. The only ex-
Ception Italy makes is of copper which
passes through that country in transit to
another country. In spite of these de-
crees. however, the British foreign Office
has thus far declined to affirm that cop
per shipments consigned to Italy will nos
be molested on the high seas. Seizures
are so numerous and delays so prolonged
that exporters are afraid to send their
copper to Italy, steamship lines decline
to accent it, and insurers refuse to issue
policies upon II. In a word. a legitimate
trade is being greatly impaired through
uncertainty as to the treatment which ii
may expect at the hands Of the British
authorities.
Asks British Plans.
We feel that We are abundantly justi-
fed in asking for information as to the
manner in which the British government
propose to carry out the policy which
they have adopted, in order that we may
determine the steps necessary to protect
our citizens, engaged in foreign trade, in
their rights and from the serious losses
to which they are liable through igno-
rance Of the hazards TO which their car
goes are exposed.
the policy of Great Britain appears to
this government to be equally unjustified
by the established rules of international
conduct. As evidence Of this, attention
is directed to the fact that a number Of
the American cargoes which have been
seized consist of foodstuffs and other
articles of common use in all countries
which are admittedly relative con-
traband. In spite of the the pre-
sumption of innocent use because dcS-
tined to neutral territory, the British au-
thorities made these seizures and deten-
tions without, so far as We are Informed,
being in possession Of facts which war
ranted a reasonable belief that the ship
ments had in reality beiligereu- desti-
nation, as that term is used in inte:na-
tional law. Mere suspicion is not evil
dence and doubts should be resolved in
favor OF neutral commerce, not against
it, The effect upon trade in these articles
between neutral nations resulting from
interrupted voyages and detained cargoes
Is not entirely cured by reimbursement
OF the owners for the damages, which
they have suffered. after investigation
has failed to establish an enemy destina-
ton. The injury is to American COM
merce with neutral countries as 'Shole
through the hazard OF the enterprise and
the repeated diversion of goods from
established markets.
It also appears that cargOes of this