Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-04
ADMITS THAT US.
HASAGR|EVANCE
Westminster Gazette Con-
fesses Some International
Rules Have Been Modified.
SAYS GERMANY CAUSED
PRESENT SITUATION
London Evening Standard Thinks
Differences With Washington Sc
rieus, But Not Irreconcilable.

| LONDON, August 4.-The comment of
the London afternoon newspapers on
the correspondence between Walter H.
| Page, the American ambassador, and
Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign
secretary. admits generally that Amer
lea and other neutrals have a griev-
ance. but they insist, TO use the words
of the Westminster Gazette. that
Great Britain has been compelled to
modify some Of the accepted rules be-
cause Germany has deliberately brok en-
these rules"
says: For the moment we would do
we'll to recognize that on strict in
depreciation of international law neu-
trails have a grievance upon which
| they are entitled to insist but that this
grievance arises In the main from the
peculiar use Germany has chosen to
| make Of tho submarine in her war upon
| merchantmen, both enemy and neu-
trail"
Comment on Iberian Incident.
to the sinking Of the British steamer
their lives. notes the silence of the
American press on this incident, and
says: The German answer to the
American note has been most direct
1t has the practical form Of killing
without warning of American seamen.
Apparently II the American press has
Its way no notice is to be taken Of this
ing of the United States in this mat
ter will be no more lost upon Germany
than upon this country"
The Evening Standard in an editorial
SAYS:
differences between Great Britain and
the United States. although serious.
are by no means irreconcilable."
Says Contention Is Accepted.
1t points out that Sir Edward Grey
unreservedly accepts the main Ameri-
can contention that international law
must prevail over national law. Con-
tinuing, it argues that the order in
council makes national law conform
fully to international requirements, but
If the United States does not accept
cedes that Great Britain will make no
objection to an appeal to an interna-
tional tribunal. This latter Is q very
strong point, the Evening Standard
States has elected to stand on inter
national principle.
The Daily Morning News calls the
present entertainments trivial as COM
pared with the friction engendered by
the northern blockade during the Ameri-
can civil war and declares that the
legal justice Of the British action In
extending the embargo to goods to or
from neutral ports which are as serv-
iceable to Germany as Hamburg and
Bremen cannot be decided by the ex-
changing Of notes. s. - r.
Compelled to Interfere.
The Morning Post says:
we have been compelled, as an in
cident of war in that struggle for
national existence which we are now
| waging, to interfere with the com
| merce Of America, in common with
that Of all neutrals, SO as to prevent
our ensmy from obtaining from neu-
| trails those articles necessary to the
prosecution of the war.
This duty has been peculiarly i'm
posed on England because of her pre-
dominant naval strength. We should
| have betrayed our allies. we should
have been guilty of treachery to them
had we not e1erted our full power
against Germany. In performing our
duty We brought certain financial
losses to America and 1t IL only nat
ural that Americans should feel irri-
| tated; that they at times even ques-
ton the justice of our actions.
yet we must ask them not to look
at the matter entirely through their
own eyes, even from the standpoint of
their own material interests. but toler-
antly. generously. justly to understand
our position"
Cites Civil War Blockade.
The Post refers to the blockade
against the south during the American
civil war. which brought disaster to
the English cotton industry, and the
failure of England to declare cotton
contraband in the present war, which
the writer terms q mistaken kind
| ness" out of consideration to the Unit.
ed States and Its people.
Surely the United States will not
add to our burdens" continues the arti-
| Gle, "or weigh humanity against money:
nor have we that fear. Americans have
given too many proofs Of their ideal
isms. and have SO repeatedly made
sacrifices to sustain their principles.
that they will not, we are sure, In this
great crisis allow material considera-
| tons of passing magnitude to indi-
viduals. but no moro than q grain of
| sand In the scale of civilization, to inn
peril the worlds future"