Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-08-04
BRITISH REJECT
|. j. s. DEMANDS
FOR FREE SEA
Will Continue to Apply Block
ade Methods, but Does Not
Want to Inconvenience.
UPHOLDS PRIZE COURTS
Cite Civil War Procedure to
Justify Seizures-Note Con-
tains Some 1000 Words.
LONDON PRESS LAUDs NOTE
Says U. S. Should be Patient
and Aid in Suppressing Ger
man Military Power.
LONDON PRESS LAUDs NOTE
specia. BY United Press Wire.

Special BY United Press Wire.
Washington, Aug. 4:-''We shall
continue to apply these measures
{the British blockade of Germony)
with every desire to occasion the
least amount of Inconvenience to
persons engaged in legitimate COM
merce."
The British note, supplement and
Natehez communication, all bearing
substantially on the same
subject, included some 1000 words.
The communications were friendly in
tone. They were not friendly in
quite the same form of expression az
the notes which have come from Ger
many, but were not least SO in ef-
feet.
The crux of the American COM
plant, as Sir Edward Grey said he
understood it-correctly, according
to international authorities here
was not the British were not only in
terfering with American shipments
to German ports, but also to the
ports. of neutral countries adjoining
Germany. u.s-.s
! Answering this complaint Sir Ed
ward refuses 'to admit that bellig-
efent violates any fundamental prin-
ciples of international law by apply
ing a blockade in such way as to
cut off the enemies with foreign
countries through neutral ports.
The note contains this view with
numerous civil war precedents, which
Sir Edward maintains were in point.
The notes supplements were an ex-
tended defense of British prize courts
and their methods.
Text Of Delayed Note No. 1.
The flrst British note, dated July %,
1915, begins with the usual acknowl-
edgement and hope Of convincing
Washington that the measures COM
planned of are reasonable. The chief
points Of the note are as follows:
First-This communication has received
the most careful consideration of his ma
jesty's government
Second.-I fully appreciate the friendly
spirit and the candor which are shown
In the communication and, reply in the
same spirit
Third need scarcely dwell on the OBJ
legation incumbent upon the allies to take
their common enemy In view OF the
shocking violation of the recognised rules
and principles Of civilized warfare of
which he has been guilty during the
present struggle. Your excellency's at
tentfon has already been drawn to some
of these proceedings in the memorandum
which I handed to you on the 10th of
February.
Since that time Lord Brice's report.
based on evidence carefully sifted by
legal experts. describing the atrocities
committed In Belgium the poisoning Of
wells in German Southwest Africa. the
use of poisonous gases against the troops
In Flanders and finally the sinking of the
Lusitania without any opportunity to pas
sengers and noncombatants to save their
lives, have shown how Indispensable 1t
is that we should leave unused no 5usti-
fable method Of defending ourselves.
Fourth.-Your excellency will remember
that in my notes of the 18th and 18th
March I explained that the allied govern
ments Intended to meet the German at
tempt to stop all supplies of every kind
from leaving or entering British or French
ports by themselves intercepting goods
going to or from Germany. I read the
communication from your excellency's
government not as questioning the neces-
sity for our taking all the steps open to
us to cripple the enemy's trade. but as
directed solely to the question of the
legitimacy Of the particular measures
adopted.
RIGHT to Establish Blockade.
Fifth--In the various notes which have
received from your excellency the right of
belligerent to establish a blockade of
the enemy ports Is admitted, right which
has obviously no value save in so far as IT
gives power to belligerent to cut OF the
RI md of
envy The contention which I understand
the United States government now puts
forward la that II belligerent Ia SO CIR
cumstanced that his commerce can pass
through adjacent neutral ports as easily
as through ports In his own territory his
opponent has no right to interfere and
must restrict his measures of blockade In
such manner as to leave such avenues
of commerce still open to his adversary.
This Is contention which his majestys
government feel unable to accept and
which seems to them unsustainabls either
In point of law or upon principles of inter
national equity. They are unable to ad-
NIT that bellisersnt violates any funda-
mental principle of international law by
applying a blockade In such way as to
cut out the enemy's commerce with for
eign countries through neutral ports If
the circumstances render such an appli-
cation Of the principles of blockade the
only means of making 1t effective.
Sixth to eleventh narrate the expert
ence of the United States In civil war
bioekades, accept the principle that
neutrals must not be injured and
quotes American decisions on the sub
3ect. The note goes on:
Continued on Page 80