The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-03
Three Separate Notes From Great Britain and One
 From Germany
BRITISH DEPENDS
 BLOCKADE EFFORTS
German Note Is on the Sinking of the American Vessel William P Frye-Right to Sink Ships
 of Neutrals Claimed

Washington, August 2---Threc notes
 lin. all dealing with the commercial rights of neutraIs, were before Secre-
 tary Lansing tonight. The British notes
 probably will be given to the press
 for publication Wednesday morning and
 the German note the following day.
 The British note defends efforts of the
 allies to suppress trade between their
 enemies and neutral countries, even by
 the stoppage of abnormal commerce
 Teutonic allies. Precedents in interna-
 tional law established by the United
 States during the civil war and especially
 in the practical blockade of the Bermudas
 to cut off supplies from the Confederate
 states are reviewed to support this as-
 sertion of right. There are citations of
 decisions by the United States supreme court on the same point
 The note has been long in preparation
 and was intended to meet the objection of the United States that previous British notes had dealt only with special cases of seizures and detentions under conditions that seemed to justify the British action failing to answer the American conten- tions that the whole process of interfer- ence with neutral commerce violates in ternational law. After it had been dis patched to Washington, new conditions
 arose that determined the British govern ment to amplify it's argument.
 New Conditions
 One of these new conditions was a strong protest against seizure of the American ship Neches, Rotterdam for New York, with Belgian and German goods. This made necessary defense of the allies right to cut off Germany's ex- port trade to neutral countries.
 The second note deals with this issue, and it is understood contends that an
 actual blockade of North sea ports exists and that regardless of the British orders in council there is inherent right in | the blockading powers under international law to suppress traffic of this kind While the controversy is proceeding, unofficial efforts are being made to release for the American market goods now awaiting ex- port at Rotterdam, by proving Belgian origin and American ownership.
 The last note of the series replied to the American caveat of July IT. saying the 1 United States would be governed only by | the principles of interna tional law in Geal- l ing with detentions and would not rec ognize the orders in council. The British | foreign office holds that the orders in l council comply with the spirit of interna- =
 tional law, though 1t is admitted that a | atlpli nfin ir.fc bau q | been made.
 | Court Proceedings
 l the American communication. The Brit | ish contend that where international is- | sues were pending before the United States courts that fact has been recog- nized by the London government as d reason for deferring diplomatic protests. l 1t is held that the United States govern ment cannot assume that its merchants l have suffered permanent injury. since 1 there is always in reserve the right of diplomatic review of prize court decisions,
 and even of arbitration under a special arbitration treaty between the United | States and Great Britain.
 The German note, continuing the dis cusson over the sinking of the American | ship William P. Frye. by German com- merce raider. deals with the American | contention that not only international law, but also the special provisions of the
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