Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-08
United States Insists Rights
of Neutrals Must Be
Observed.
AMERICAN SHIPPERS
TO BE PROTECTED
United States Informs London Gov.
ernment Appeal to Prize Courts Has
Been Abandoned and Interests Of
Americans Will Be Looked After by
Govsrnment-Papsr Blockade De-
clared illegal and Ineffective.

washington, NOV. S.-IuDl1catlOn TO-
day of the American note to Great
Britain denouncing as ineffective. H.
legal and indefensible" the attempted
blockade against Austria and Germany
gives notice to citizens Of the United
States, whose legitimate foreign trade
is interefered with by the allies, that
they should seek redress directly thru
the diplomatic channels of their own
government rather than thru the prize
courts.
This latest note. delivered by Am
bassador Page to the British foreign
office. is an exhaustive document, deal
ing with Britain's interference with
American trade since tho outbreak OF
the war.
In effect 1t is also communication
TO France. which has followed her ally
in the interference with shipping.
Thirty-Fivs Points Treated.
Thirty-flve points are treated in the
note. and, In conclusion, Secretary
Lansing declares that the United
States ''can not with complacence suf-
fer further suhordination Of IT. rights
and interests to the plea that the ex-
ceptional geographic position Of the
enemies sof Great Britain require oi
Justify oppressive or Illegal prac-
tices."
The. relations between the United
States and Great Britain. he says. must
be governed not by expediency but by
established rules Of international con-
duct: 1t is of, the highest Importance
to neutrals, not only OF tho present
day but OF the future, thatSthe princi-
pies Of international right be main
tanned unimpaired and the United
States unhesitatingly assumes the task
of championing the rights of neutrals.
Policy 10 Changed.
Heretofore Americans whose cargoes
have been seized on the high seas and
delayed or confiscated, have been ad-
yised to exhaust legal remedies abroad
before asking the United States gov
ernment to seek reparation. Now, the
note says, the government feels that
it can not reasonably be expected to
advise it's citizens to seek redress be-
fore tribunals which are in its opinion
unauthorized by the unrestricted ap-
plication Of International law to grant
reparation, nor to refrain from pre-
senting their claims directly to the Brit
lsh government thru the diplomatic
channels"
Since the United States does not
recognize a legal blockade. Americans
may look for protection to their gov
ernment in shipment Of non contra
band goods not only to neutral coun-
tries but directly to or from the ene-
mics of the allies.
Sharp Tone 20 Note.
The United States in its latest note
to Great Britain, made public here
Sunday. declares the so-called block
ade instituted by the allies against
enemy countries March II, rs ''ineffec-
sive, illegal and indefensible." Notice
is served that the American govern.
ment can not submit to the curtail-
ment Of its natural rights" and 1t can
not with complacence suffer further
subordination of its rights and inter-
ests."
Ambassador Page, 70 whom the
note was sent for delivery to the Lon
don foreign office. was Instructed by
Secretary Lansing. to Impress most
earnestly" upon the British govern
ment that the United States must
insist the relations between It and his
majesty's government be governed not
only by policy Of expediency hut BY
those established rules Of International
conduct to which Great Britain in the
past has held the United States to ac-
count when the latter nation was .
belligerent engaged in struggle for
national existence"
Declaring the United States "un-
hesitatingly assumes the task OF
championing the integrity Of neutral
rights. the note proclaims the Amer
ican government will devote its ener-
gies to the task, exercising always an
impartial attitude.
In conclusion Secretary Lansing
says:
II believe It has been conclusively