South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-18
BRITISH EXPECTED
TO RAISE POINTS
Two Counter Proposals to
United States Note viii
be Brought UP.

wASHINGTON. Nov. 1S.-The state
department has received the views OF
American diplomatic officials in Eng
land as 10 the probable reply of the
British government 70 the recent note
OF the United States demanding the
cessation OF interference with Amer
lean commerce.
According to one Of these officials.
Great Britain is expected 20 make the
two following essential counter pro-
pOsals:
First-That the United States enter
into an agreement with Great Britain,
under existing British admiralty laws,
for the protection OF neutral com
merce.
Second-That an arrangement be
made between the British admiralty
and the United States treasury de-
partment for such a mutual inspec-
lion Of outgoing cargOes as shall re-
duce 10 a minimum the necessity for
the detention Of any vessel
Not Well Taken.
It was indicated by an official OF
the state department that these prop
ositions are not well taken by this
government He said that the one
which appeals most 10 the official mind
here is the plan for mutual inspec-
ton This, he said, mighs be accept
ed but under conditions to be i'm
posed by the United States. which the
present policy OF Great Britain indi-
Gates she will not grant.
Discussing the propositions this
official said:
Great Britain, OF course, knows we
have taken the stand that we will not
recognize as internationally valid any
requirement Of hers which is based
on orders in council and other regula-
tiOns OF the admiralty under purely
local British laws. This government
therefore could not make an arrange
ment with Great Britain which would
admit at this date the validity OF such
laws The department, however
might enter into an arrangement
which would have for its basis
international law as it existed before
Great Britain and Germany entered
upon their retaliatOry measures.
Matter OF Right.
eff Great Britain will make her sec
Ond proposition in such shape that it
Will be based on international law
alone, we might accept it, with the
distinct understanding that we enter
into il as a matter of right and not
as a matter of concession. The British
proposition, on its face, is a counter
proposal, probably TO gain time. 1t
will be rejected unless formulated on
the conditions have named.
There is no question that there is
merit in any proposition by Great
Britain to relieve American commerce
of the chances of seizure and prize
court proceedings. There is nothing
impossible in the proposition that a
mutual inspection in American ports
might be so conducted as TO be con-
elusive on everything except as to
what might take place at sea after
the actual sailing OF the ships. AS a
matter OF fact Great Britain has prom
Used twice to reduce to a minimum
aggressiOus on American commerce
and il was because she had failed TO
make these promises good that our
last note became necessary.
Must Drop Methods.
The main point is the suggestion
Of an agreement between the two gov
ernments. In my opinion, there will
be and can be no agreement by this
country unless Great Britain abandons
the contention Of her right to act
under orders in council. Her whole
new remedy for the situation will
therefore be rejected Summarily if
she does not admit that international
law is the only law under which she
can offer 10 make an agreement with
us"
In addition to their personal opin-
ions as 10 the probable main points
in the forthcoming reply Of Great
Britain, the diplomatic representatives
of this government have sent the de-
partment everything they could get in
the way of printed articles bearing on
the subject