The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-06
note
TO ENGLAND

TO ENGLAND
Full Text Of the Note Sent to Great
Britain by the. United States
Government Last Week.
BETTER TREATMENT OF cAReoEs
Much Concern Felt Regarding Seizure
of Anne, lean Goods Destined to
Neutral Ports Of Europe
Washington, d. c., Dec. 31-By
mutual agreement between the state
department and the British foreign Of
flee the full text of the note sent by
the United States to Great Britain in
sisting on an early Improvement in
the treatment OF American commerce
by the British fleet was made public
here tonight The full text follows:
'.The secretary of state to the Amer
ican ambassador at London. Depart
ment OF State. Washington, D. c.,
Dec. 26, 1914. The present condition
Of American foreign trade resulting
from the frequent seizures and deten-
tons OF American cargOes destined to
neutral European ports has become so
serious as to require candid state
ment OF the views OF this government
in order, that the British government
may be fully informed as to the atti-
tude OF the United States toward the
policy which has been pursued by the
British authorities during the present
war.
"You will, therefore, communicate
the following to his majesty's princi-
pal secretary of state for foreign at.
fairs, but in doing SO you will assure
him that it is done in the most friend.
ly spirit and in the belief that frank
ness will better serve the continuance
OF cordial relations between the two
countries than silence. which may be
misconstrued into acquiescence, in a
course OF conduct which this govern
ment cannot but consider to be an in
fringement upon the rights Of Ameri-
can citizens. f,
"The government OF the United
States has. viewed with growing CON
Germ the large number Of vessels, lad
en- with American goods destined to
neutral ports in Europe, which have
been seized on the high seas. taken in
TO British ports and detained some,
times for weeks by the British author
tiles. During the early days Of the
war. this government, assumed hat the
policy adopted by tho British g0vSrii.
ment was due to the unexpected out.
break OF hostilities and the necessity
OF immediate action to prevent con.
traband from reaching the enemy. For
this reason, 1t was not disposed to
judge this policy harshly or protest it
vigorously. although 1t was manifestly
very injurious to American trade with
the neutral countries Of Europe, This
government, relying Confidently upon
tho high regard which Great Britain
has so often exhibited in the past for
the rights OF other nations, confidently
awaited amendment Of course OF ac-
ton which denied to neutral COM
merce the freedom to which, Il was en-,
titled by the law Of nations.
This expectation seemed to be- rem
dered the more assured by the state
ment of the foreign Office early in No
yember that the British government
was satisfied with guarantees offered
by the Norwegian. Swedish and DAN
ish governments as to transportation
of contraband goods when consigned
to named persons in the territories of
those governments, and that orders
had been given to the British feet
and customs authorities to restrict in
reference with neutral vessels carry
ing such cargOes SO consigned to YER
ification Of ships papers and ycargOes.
at is, therefore, a matter Of deep
regret that, though nearly five months
have passed since the war began, the
British government has not materially
changed their policy and do not treat
less vigorously ships and cargoes pass
ing between neutral points in the
peaceable pursuit of lawful commerce,
which belligerents should protect Fath-
err than interrupt. The greater free
dom from detention and seizure which
was confidently expected to result
from consigning shipments to definite
rather than to order is
still awaited.
ut is needless to point out to his
majesty's government, usually the
champion of the freedom of seas and
the rights Of trade, that peace, not
war. is the normal relation between
nations. and that the commerce be-
tween countries which are not bellig-
erents should not be interfered with
by those at war unless such interfer-
ence is manifestly an imperative me-
cessity to protect their national safe.
ty. and then only to the extent that it
Is u necessity. 1t is with NO lack of
appreciation Of the momentOus nature
of the present struggle in which Great
Britain Is engaged. and with no selfish
desire to gain undue commercial ad.
vantage that this government is re-
luctantly forced to the conclusion that
the present policy of his majesty's
government toward neutral ships and
cargoes exceeds the manifest neces-
sity of belligerent and constitutes
upon the rights OF Ameri-
can citizens on the high seas which
are not justified by the rules of inter-
law or required under the
principles Of self preservation.
'The government of the United
States does not intend at this time to
discuss the propriety of including GER
tain articles in the lists OF absolute
and conditional contraband, which