The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-06
B.: ANS REPLY
TO THE BRITISH
Diplomatic Circles Deeply In
terested in the Answer to
Order in Council Regard
ing Blockade.
'IoNE STRONG SENTENCE
What One Nation Claims to be illegal
10 not to be Overlooked by
Another, Says secre-
tary Of State.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service ]
matte circles were deeply interested
today with Secretary Bryan's reply to
the British order in council, but 1t
was the general impression that near
ly all international law experts at
Washington had forecasted the notes
contents with peculiar accuracy, so
that it contained no surprise"
Considerable significance was at
tached to the clause which practically
enunciated the American attitude TO-
ward Germany.
IF the course pursued by the pres
ent enemies of Great Britain" the
note read, should prove to be in fact
tainted by illegality and disregard of
the principles Of war, sanctioned by
enlightened nations, it cannot be sup
posed-that his majesty's government
would wish the same taint to attach to
their own actions or would cite such
Illegal acts as in any sense or degree
la justification for similar practices on
their part
Diplomats here regarded this par.
agraph as the most unreserved and
|uncompromising utterance the state
department has yet made concerning
the submarine blockade Of England
1t is generally held to be dangerously
close to an expression of official opin-
ion of Germany's war policy.
Another significant feature of the
is held to be the clause
which practically recognizes a bel
ligerent's right to impose a blockade
of the entire ocean. insofar as enemy
ships are concerned, as condition
brought about "by the great changes
which have occurred in the conditions
and means of naval warfare"
Diplomatic and international law
specialists are convinced that the
British government will not permit
American pressure to cause relaxa-
tion in the stringency of the present
blockade, but 1t is also held that
Great Britain probably will make all
financial amends for interference with
neutral trade that conditions seem 20
justify.
That this government will demand
a strict accounting in this phase OF
the matter was indicated by the text
of the state departments reply which
in part, stated in unequivocal terms
that the possibilities Of serious inter
ruption of American trade under the
order in council-seem liable to con-
stitute so great an impediment and
embarrassment to neutral commerce
that the United States apprehends
many interferences which will impose
upon his majesty's government heavy
responsibility for acts Of the British
authorities clearly subversive of the
rights of neutral nations on the high
seas"
Violation Of Neutrality.
NEW YORK, April ga grand
jury probe into mass of evidence OF
violation Of neutrality by ships taking
supplies to the British patrol fleet of
the Atlantic coast will probably be
begun within the next week. Colloc-
tor Of the Port Malons indicated today
that his evidence was complete and
would be submitted to the district at
torney. 1t was reliably reported that
a widespread conspiracy has been un-
earthed covering the operations OF
supply ships from New York. Phila-
delphia and Boston.
German Statement.
WASHINGTON. April 6.-The Gec-
man embassy issued a statement to-
day. blaming England for the de-
struction by a German submarine o.
the British steamship Falaba, N
which the American, Thresher, lost
his life.
"rhe German government" 1t was
stated. regrets the sacrifice of hui
man lives, but both British ships and
neutral passengers were warned urg-
emily and in time not to cross the war
zone.
The responsibility therefore rests
with the British government, which.
contrary to international law. waged
war against Germany, and
contrary to international law, has
caused merchant ships to offer armed
resistance"
Yale Bulldog Meets Pennsy.