Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-09
Pointed Protest Is Made By
United States to Ocean
Policy Of the Allies
NEUTRALS' RIGHTS
ARE INSISTED UPON
This Nation Undertakes to
Champion the Cause of
Non Belligerents

Ion today of the American note to
Great Britain denouncing as "ineffec.
tive illegal and indefensible" the at
tempted blockade against Germany
and Austria, gives notice to citizens
of the United States whose legitimate
foreign trade is interfered with by the
allies that they should seek redress
directly through the diplomatic chan
.lels of their own government rather
than through prize courts.
This latest note, delivered by AM
baasador Page to the British foreign
office. is an exhaustive document deal
ing with Englands interference with
American trade since the outbreak of
the war In effect, it is commune
cation also to France, which has fol-
lowed Eer ally in the treatment of
overseas commerce, as copy was
presented to the French embassy here.
Ac:inc For NeutraIs.
Thirtyfive points are treated in the
note ana, in conclusion, Secretary
Lansing declares that the United
Sta.es cannot with complacence suf-
fer further subordination of it's rights
and interests to the plea that the ex-
ceptional geographic position of the
enemies of Great Britain require or
justify oppressive and illegal prac-
j, Ices = The .srelations =. between. the
United States and Great Britain, he
says mast be governed not by ex-
pediency but by established rules OF
international conduct, and it is Of the
highest Importance to neutrals not on
~ Of the present day but of the future
that TIC principles of international
ligLt DC r-aintained and unimpaired,
ara the United States unhesitatingly
1.lcs tac task of championing the
ris,,ts Uf neutrals.
u. S. Promises Redress.
Heretofore, Americans whose car
zoe. destined to neutral countries have
beer seized on the high seas and de-
!ayed or confiscated, have been advis-
I'd to exhaust legal remedies abroad
ebeforc asking the United States gov
ern,l ent to seek reparation. Now, the
aotc says, the government feels that
1t cannot reasonably be expected to
advise it's citizens to seek redress be-
fore tribunals which are in its opin-
ION unauthorized by the unrestricted
application of international law to
grant recaration, nor to refrain from
presenting their claims directly to the
British government through diplomatic
channels
Since the United States does not
recognize the existence of a legal
blockade, Americans may look to their
government for protection in the ship.
meut of noncontraband cargOes not
only to neutral countries contiguous to
belligerents, but directly to or from
,ne enemies of the allies.
ENGLAND's VIEW OF NOTE.
Manchester, Eng, Nov. S.-The
American note to Great Britain is
polite but hard in substance, in the
opinion of the Guardian, which says:
"We must not let preoccupations
prevent lis from attempting to under
stand the United States viewpoint.
Although we shall be unable to con-
cede it's contentious, much will depend
on the spirit in which it is dealt with
officially, privately and publicly. Let
none forget that the cordial friendship
of the United States will not be a
luxury but necessity Of British policy
when the war is over.
Pointing out that the rules for
blockades were made before railroads
were built and that lawyers and diplo-
mats always nave IOTSOtIeH Ine rail-
roads when revising the rules, the
Guardian contends railroads have
made Holland, Denmark and Norway
a part of Germany and that If there
were no interference with the transit
Of goods through these neutral coun-
tries, then Germany could not be
plockaded.
Unjust to Islands.
effect" the Guardian continues,
American arguments, II they
accepted as they stand, would
III the commercial blockade of
ontinental power. Only islands
! have no neutral side doors
be blockaded commercially,
,es the United States question the
of interference with Germany
imports through neutral ports ?
answer is yes, then our answer
be one of resistance to view of
rhich would work out very un-
:; to us as an island country and
America did not recognize
she was at war. The only con-
sion we could make on principle
would be to agree to discuss the whole
question with the United States at the
md of the war when the time came to