The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-28
British Minister for Foreign Affairs Does Not Want Recent Note to United States Published
EXPLANATION MADE THAT ANOTHER NOTE
 IS TO BE DRAFTED
Secretary of State Lansing Declines to Advance Any Theory for the Request

Washington, July 27.--A request to- day by Sir Edward Grey. British min- ister for foreign affairs. that the American state department withhold from publication In tomorrow morn ing's papers, as originally planned. the text of yesterdays British reply to the American protest against the British order in council, caused much spec uiHtion in official circles. No expinn- ation was made except that another note on the same subject was prom iscd from London within n week.
 Secretary Lansing declined to ad- vance any theory for the supplementii Of the first communication. An Ameri- can note now in preparation will he delayed further until tne supplementary document is received.
 Officials at first supposed that state ments in the last American not to Ger many. which stated the purpose of the United States to maintain the freedom of the seas. might have influenced the British foreign office to deal with that
 
 the order in council. From British sources, however, it was learned that the main purpose of asking the post ponement of publication was to give the British government opportunity 10 consider and if necessary comment on the communication cabled from Wash ington on July IT regarding cases be- fore British prize courts
 Differences Existing
 This coulmupseation, known as. ea- veat. recited that In view of differences understood to exist between the two governments as to the principles of law applicable in prize court proceed ings in cases involving American in- terests and to avoid any misunder- standing as to the attitude of tho United States, the British government was informed that the American gov ernment would insist on the recoRni- tion of the rights of American citizens under the principles of international law as hitherto established, governing neutral trade In time of war without limitation or impairment by orders in council, and would not recognize tine validity of prize court proceedings taken under the restraints imposed by British municipal law in derogation If
 
 international law.
 The British note delivered yesterday Is understood to be framed on the the ory that the order in council does LOU transgress the rights of neutrals as laid down in international law, thourn 1t is admitted that In some respects the application of the legal principles is new. In view of the sweeping objection by the United States to the order in council made in the caVeat the British government feels, it is understood this phase requires special treatment At first 1t was thought a separate ncte might be sent in reply, but the British government is understood to have de- cided to include this subject in the whole general argument covering the rights of neutrals to the freedom of the seas.
 Feature of Note
 One feature of the British note Is un- derstood to deal exhaustively with the right of country to blockade an enemy through neutral ports. That the United States, If in war with European coun- try outside of the British Isles never could successfully maintain a blockade, so long as the enemy country could re- ceve unlimited supplies across the bor- ders of an adjacent country is regarded
 tContinued on Page Three)