Evening star., 1915-11-08

Secretary Lansing has Instructed Am
bassador Page, to whom the note was
sent by special messenger for delivery
to the British foreign Office, ITO i'm
press most earnestly upon the British
government that the United States
''nust insist that the relations between
1t and his majesty's government be
governed, not by policy of expe-
diency. but by those established rules
of international conduct to which Great
Britain in the past has held the United
States to account when the latter ma
tton was a belligerent engaged in a
struggle for national existence"
Champions Neutral Rights.
Declaring the United States "unhesi-
tatingly assumes the task of cham
pioning the integrity of neutral rights,
the note proclaims that the American
government will devote its energies to
the task, exercising always an impair
tial attitude.
Heretofore Americans whose cargoes
destined to neutral countries have been
seized on the high seas and delayed or
conhscated- have been advised to eX-
haust legal remedies abroad before
asking the United States government
TO seek reparation. Now, this note
says, the government feels that it
cannot reasonably be expected to ad-
wise it's citizens TO seek redress before
tribunals which are in its opinion un-
authorized bv the unrestricted applica-
ton of int national law to grant rep
aration, nor to refrain from presenting
their claims directly to the British
government through diplomatic chan
nels''
Since the United States does not rec
ognize the existence of legal block
ade, Americans may look to their gov
ernment for protection in the shipment
of non-contraband cargoes not only to
neutral countries contiguous to bel
ligerents, but directly to or from the
enemies of the allies.
The note, nearly $4,000 words in
length. was made public by agreement
between the State Department and the
British foreign Office. 1t carries with it
a voluminous appendix, giving the text
of American naval instructions issued
IN 1852 and a summary and table show
ing hundreds of vessels detained by
British authorities since the beginning
of the present war.
The body of the note is divided into
thirty-five points. dealing with all
phases of the contraband question, seiZ-
ureS and Getentions, prior to- as well a G
after. the so-cailed blockade was insfi-
tuted. and announces that a separate
commui tion Will be sent soon dealing
particularly with the "propriety and
right of the British government To in
clude IN their list of contraband of war
certain articles which have been SO in
cluded."
Methods Not Justified.
In conclusion, after an argument on
the law and facts, Secretary Lansing z
says:
Il believe IL has been conclusiyeIv
shown that the methods sought to be
employed by Great Britain to obtain
and use evidence Of enemy destination
of cargoes bound for neutral ports and
to impose q coHtraband character upon
such cargoes are without justification; :;
that the blockade, upon which such
inethoos are partly founded, is iuefec-
tive, Illegal and indefensible; that the
Judicial procedure offered as a rneans
OF reparatton for an international In :
jury IS inherently defective for the
purpose; and that in many cases juris-
diction Is asserted in violation of tt e
law OF nations. The United States
therefore, cannot submit to the curtaiI-
rhent OF Its neutral rights to these
measures. which are admittedly retail
iatory, and therefore Illegal, in con-
ception and In nature, and intended to
punish the enemies Of Great Britain
Tor alleged lllegalities on their part
The United States might not be in a
position to object to them If its inter
ests and the interests of all neutrals
were Unaffected by them, but being
affected. II cannot with complacence
rights and interests TO the plea that
the exceptional geographic position of
the enemies of Great Britain requires or
1ustifes oppressive and Illegal prac-
tices.
Rejects Policy of Expediency.
THE government of the United States
desires. therefore, to impress most ear
nestly upon his matestys government
that II must insist that the relations
beween 1t and his majesty's govern
nent be governed, not by a policy of
expediency, but by those established
rules of international conduct upon
which Great Britain in the past has
held the United States to account when
the latter nation was a belligerent en-
gagged in a struggle for national ex-
istence. It is of the highest importa nee
TO neutrals not only Of the present day
but of the future. that the pr1nei Piles
of International right be maintained
untmpaired.
This task Of championing the integrity