New-York tribune., 1915-03-17
Will Make Strong Objec-
tiOnS to Several Phases
of the Order.
TOO MUCH POWER
IN PRIZE COURTS
President Regards Britain's En-
barge as Making New Era
in Jurisprudence.
From Tie Tribune Bureau J


Washington, March 16.-Both the
Netherlands Minister, Chevalier Van
Rappard, and the Swiss Minister, DR..
Paul Ritter, called at the State Depart
ment to-day relative to the British en-
barge on all German commerce. DR..
Ritter sought information as to the
position of the Allies in the matter.
Administration officials resent the
form of the British order, although ex-
pressions Of opinion are withheld pend
ing a definite enunciation of the ad-
ministration's policy. The general at
titude of displeasure and embarrass-
ment shown in State Department CIR
cles is taken here to indicate that the
United States will make strong obJec-
tions TO several phases of the order
The most unpopular phase of the
British action is the delegation to prlze
/ courts of a strangle hold on all neutral
commerce with Germany or suspected
of having German destination. 1t is
/ felt that too much leeway is granted
D
/ to the prize courts, and that too rigid
construction of the evidence adduced
/ before them will work incalculable
/ hardship on neutral ship and cargo
owners.
Another distasteful phase OF the or
der is the absence of deliminatlon OF
! the areas in which commerce Is free.
/ II is felt that the British have AFRO
gated to themselves the high seas OF
/ the world as an area Of operation,
making the Atlantic and Pacific and
other navigable waters of the globe a
/ sort of Anglo French lake, in which
! they may disport themselves as they
please. without the consent Of any
/ other nations.
President Wilson declined TO dis
/ ouss the Order in Council to-day. He
/ explained that he felt he must with
hold comment until after he had had
an opportunity to peruSe its Official
/ text. That the unofficial transcript he
had seen had given him little pleasure
was evident from his manner.
The President, it is understood. con-
siders the Order in Council as mark
ing "a new era in international Jurls-
prudence. lie was questioned on this
point to-day, and had begun an answer
to the questioner, when he thought 1t
better TO defer an expression OF opn-
ion, and withheld any remark. This
view of the President is shared by all
of his advisers. The British order was
the principal topic OF discussion at
the Cabinet meeting, but the Cabinet
members refrained from talking about
il elsewhere.
Late to-day the official text of the
order was received at the State Depart
ment from Ambassador Page. 1t was
said to differ from the published tran
scripts only in minor and non-essentlai
particulars. The officials began study
of its terms, with a view TO framing
the objections the United States viii!
register to IT,
Ii is thought by State Department
officials that the principal producers IN
the United States who will suffer
through the general embargo on trade
with Germany will be the Southern
cotton farmers and factors. Foodstt !
exports tv Germany and Austria have
been already reduced far below normal,
but the demand for cotton has never
been higher since the Civil War than
now
The British promise 70 pay for cot
Ton cargoes seized corrects cnlv N "a
small way the evil of their beng inter-
lered with and deprived Of the German
market. 1t is pointed ou. that the
dumping of the cotton bound for Ger
many on the markets of Great Britain
and her allies will cause glut, which
will reduce the price and at the Same
time deprive the shipper of he added
profits otherwise to be obtained in
the German markets, where the brice
is very high and advancing.
Further consideration of the British
embargo has not materially modified
the opinion of international experts
that the order is Of a character so
entirely without precedent in interna-
tional law that the surest and most
definite way TO combat 1t will be by
directing the attention of Great Britain
10 previous communications from this
government, in which respect for and
adherence 10 the time honored prin-
! ciples Of international law have been
urged on both Great Britain and her
/ enemies.
The position taken in other notes has
been that commerce between the United
| States and other neutrals should. OF
/ its own right, be conducted exactly on
the same terms as if all nations were
| in the normal condition OF peace. This
will be urged again 10 combat the new
British theory eknS a. &L-slLsS prlZe