The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-08

! Instructions and regulations violative or
the law and practice of nations. or open
to such objection
No Means of ReparatIon.
Furthermore. II is pointed out by the
United States. tho British prize courts
offer no means of Teparation for dsas-
trous effects OF British practices upon
American trade Fear OF British pTac-
tees. IL is asserted. has caused Amer
leans to shun certain trades. has forced
insurance rates up. and acted as a gen.
eral deterrent upon American trade with
neutrals.
With respect to the British blockade.
the United States serves notice that Il
Is not recognized AS legal blockade;
that IL Is not a blockade in law, prac-
tice. or effect. The blockade is not ef
fectlve. it is charged. in that German
coasts are open TO Scandinavian trade;
II Is not impartial because the northern
Deutrals are free to trade with Germany
while the United States Is virtually de-
barred from such trade. British prece-
dents and Sir Edward Grey himself
are cited by the United States in sup
port of the notes contention that a
blockade must not bar access to neutral
ports. The MatamoTss and SprinEbok
cases in the civil war are cited to sup
port the United States contentious with
reference to the blockade. Finally. the
note asserts. Great Britfn has admitted
increased exports to Scandinavian cOun-
tries, which are free to trade with Ger
many. and that certainly a blockade can
not be considered effective II belllgcrents
themselves are trading with the sup
posedly blockaded country.
The protest Of nearly year ago
against British seizures and detentions of
ATTla ~
with increased ylgoT l..
The language of the note is particularly
emphatic. in the light Of fifteen months
Of experience with the increasingly
vexatiOus" British practices. and is sup
ported by an exhibit showing the record
OF what sufferings have been imposed on
American interests.
International Law Violated.
International law has been violated
by the British. IL il alleged. in seiz-
ures of neutral vessels on the high
seas, their convoy into British ports,
while efforts are made. by search or
otherwise. to obtain evidence in proof
OF the presence OF contraband or of
hostile destination. The United States
demands that searches be made
entirely at sea. and that no vessel be
taken into port unless evidence Is
found on board of her. in goods or in
papers sufficient to warrant a hear
ing before a prize court. The Brit
Ish procedure of introducing "extrin-
sic evidence" beyond what was OBJ
tanned on the vessel herself. is in con-
fiict with previous British practice
the note asserts. and with that of all
other maritime powers. The expert
opinion of American naval officers.
and the orders of belligerent powers
from 1855 to 1914. are cited to refuts
the British contention that search az
sea is not practicable under modern
With reference to the British charge
that increased expectations to nru-
trails raises a presumption of intend
ed transshipment to the enemy, the
United States fatty repudiates such
a doctrine. II points out that Brit
lsh exports to these neutrals have in
creased, thus contributing to the con-
dition which Is made the plea for
holding up American cargoes to 'un-
warranted and inquisitoriaI proceed
ure." II the British rule is accept
ed, ii is declared. the more British
exports to these neutrals, the more |
American cargoes would be held up. !
Great Britain cannot expect" Sec !
rotary Lansing asserts; the United |
States to submit to such manifest in
justice or to permit the rights of its |
citizens to be so seriously injured"
Specific Charges Made.
In appendix No. of the note. specify
ing what has happened to American
ships or ships carrying American car
goes. the United States makes spe-
cific charges against the British. with
cases given under each charge. These /
charges are:
That vessels whose cargoes and papers
have been of a character requiring only
a brief time for examination, have been
held sometimes more than n month. and
then released without prize court pro-
That vessels have sometimes been held
until they consented to reconsgn their
cargoes to a neutral consignee designated
by the British government
That many detentions have been made
on bare suspicion"
That many vessels have been held be-
,ause of the manner in which their goods
were consigned to neutrals.
Cargoes have been seized by the Brit
sh government because the government
~ the country to which they were con-
signed had not placed an embargo on
their transportation.
Detentions have been made while as
suranccs were being obtained that EN-
Dargoed goods would be allowed TO pass
a neutral country to Great Bril-
tain's allies.
Goods have been detained because of
he charge by the British government
hat the consignees were suspected OF
trading with the enemy.
Vessels have been detained and even
to discharge cargo when sail
ing from European ports for the United
stateA