The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-06

 ment that the instructions to be issued by his majesty's government to the fleet and to the customs officials and executive committees concerned will impress upon them the duty of acting with the utmost dispatch consistent with the object in view, and, of show Ing in every case such consideration for neutrals as may be compatible with that object which is, succinctly stated, to establish a blockade to prevent ves- sells from carrying goods for or coming from Germany
 Tn view of these assurances for mally given to this government, it is confidently expected that the extensive powers conferred by the order in coun- cil on the executive officers of the crown will be restricted by orders issued by the government directing the exercise of their discretionary powers in such manner as to modify in prac. tical application those provisions of the order in council which, if strictly en- forced, would violate neutral rights and interrupt legitimate trade. Relying On the faithful performance of these volun- tary assurances by his majestys gov ernment the United States takes it for granted that the apprach of Ameri can merchantmen to neutral ports situated on the long lines of coast affected by 'iiS oidtI III cOuncll VIII not be inter- Tered with when it is known that they do not carry goods which are contra band of war or goods destined to or proceeding from ports within the bel nSerent territory affected.
 Depend on International Law E The government of the United States assumes with the greater confidence that his majesty's government will thus adjust their practice to the recognized rules of International law, because it is manifest that the British government has adopted an extraordinary method of stopping car goes destined for or coming from the en- emy's territory which owing to the ex. istence of unusual conditions in modern warfare at sea, 1t will be difficult to re- strict to the limits which have been here tofore required by the law of nations. Though the area of operations is confined to European waters, including the Medi- terraneah, so great an area of the high seas is covered and the eordon of ships so distant from the territory affected that neutral vessels must necessarily pa ass through the blockading force in order to reach important neutral ports which Great Britain as bellgerent has not the legal right to blockade and which, there- fore, it is presumed she has no intention of claiming to blockade. The Scandina- yian and Danish ports, for example, are open to American trade. They are also free, so far as the actual enforcement of the order in council is concerned, to carry on trade with German Baltic ports, although it is an essential element of blockade that it bear with equal severity upon all neutrals.
 This government, therefore, infers that the commanders of his majesty's ships of war engaged in maintaining the so-called blockade will be instructed to avoid an l G.. @f nonintercourse in such %ay as to im- pose restrictions upon neutral trade more burdensome than those which have been regarded as inevitable when the ports of l a beligerent are actually blockaded by the ships of it's enemy.
 Trade Interrupted
 '"The possibilities of serious interrup | tion of American trade under the order 1 in council are so many, and the methods proposed are so unusual and seem liablt ] to constitute so great an impeachment ant embarrassment to neutral commerce thai the government of the United States. il 1 the order in council is strictly enforced apprehends many interferences with its | legitimate trade, which will impose upor his majesty's government heavy respon abilities for acts of the British authoritie. clearly subversve of the rights of neu l tral nations on the high seas. It is there l lore expected .tldl HIS IildJtstN BoNtIH ment, having considered these possibili i ties, will take the steps necessary to avoi, 1 them, and, in the event that they shoult unhappily occur. will be prepared to mak' full reparation for every act. which, uf der the rules of international law, con stitutes a violation of neutral rights "As stated in it's communication O l October 22 1914, this government vii | insist that the rights and duties of tn | United States and it's citizens in the pres ent war be defined by the existing rule of international law and the treaties O the United States. irrespective of the pro visions of the declaration of London, am that this government reserves to itsel the right to enter a protest or deman in each case in which those rights am duties SO defined are violated or thei free exrcise interfered with by the au thorities of the British government Tn conclusion you will reiterate to hi majesty's government that this statemen of the views of the government of tn United States is made in the most friend ly spirit. and in accordance with tn uniform candor which has characterize the relations of the two governments i the past, and which has been in larg measure the foundation of the peace an amity existing between the two nation without interruption for century.
 BRYAN"