The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-04
"UNSUSTAINABLE
IN POINT OF LAW
American Representations To Great Brit
ain Are Also Declared To Be Not
Based on Principles of Inter-
national Equity.

|
replies to the latest American repre-
sentations against interferences with
neutral commerce reject entirely the con-
tention that the orders in council are IL
! legal and justify the British course as
being wholly within international law,
"Unsustainable either in point of law
or upon principles OF international
equity is the British reply to the Amer
lean protest against the blockage of neu-
tral ports, with an invitation to submit
to international arbitration any cases in
which the United States is dissatisfied
with the action of British prize courts.
Great Britain's reply embodied in two
notes, one supplemental, was made pub
lie here last night and in London stimuli
taneously by agreement between the two
governments. With the notes was made
public also the correspondence over the
American steamer Neches, seized by the
British while en- route from Rotterdam
to the United States with goods of Ger
man origin. All the correspondence ag-
cregates 1000 words.
Changed conditions OF warfare. the
! British note contends, require a new ap-
plcation of the principles of internation-
al law. The advent of the submarine,
the airship and the alleged atrocities by
German troops in Belgium are cited as
| justification for the exercise Of extreme
measures. The blockade is justified on
the contention that the universally rec
ognized fundamental principle Of block
ade is that belligerent is entitled 20
cut of "by effective means the seaborne
commerce of his enemy"
The note reiterates that Great Britain
will continue TO apply the orders com
planned Of although not without every
effort to avoid embarrassment TO neu-
trails. and observes that the American
statistics show that any loss in trade
with Germany and Austria has been
more than overbalanced by the increase
of other industrial activities due TO the
war.
In the general reply to the American
representations against the orders in
council Sir Edward Grey, the foreign
minister, addressing Ambassador Page.
begins by expressing the hope that he
may be able 70 convince the administra-
tion in Washington "that the measures
we have announced are not only reason.
able and necessary IN themselves, but
constitute no more than an adaptation
Of the old principles Of blockade 10 the
peculiar circumstances with which we
are confronted"
Il need scarcely dwell" wrote Sir
Edward. "on the obligations incumbent
upon the allies 20 take every step in
their power TO overcome their common
enemy in view Of the shocking violation
Of the recognized rules and principles
% civilized warfare Of which he has been
guilty during the present struggle"
Sir Edward then refers 20 atrocities
in belgium. poisoning of wells IN Ger
man southwest Africa. use of poisonous
gases against the allied troops IN Plan.
ders and finally the sinking Of the Lusi.
tauia. 20 show how indispensable n is
that We should leave unused No iusti-
fable method of defending Ourselves
Coming down - the question ~ the
allied blockade of neutral ports the note
continues
In the various notes which : hare
received from your excslicney. the right
of 3 heIlircreut g. rsta hlish = blorl--
aae II TIE eupmv ports is admitted.
right wnicb has ohfigusly ~ value sart
insofar - 4 gives power a. heiiigrr
pnf a. cut oH thr seshprur exports end
imports ~ tis sneuF Tho contention
" hieh 7 unafFHtand tha TESTED States
government uou fuis forward it that r.
heIiigrreut - - fsrrumstsna~a thsf
ttr nommrrur ran rass thraurh afia-
reuf neutral rorts - raF.'v e. thFo1rh
ports in his nnn TERRITORY his urTse.
nrrfs has ~ rirht e. interfere aud rursf
r..afr1sf his amuHsWrrs 81 t1a ka6a fn
-urh = rnsrnef - - iaaef snff arrunes
nj ts.rumeFrf stil rpan ~ his sftffsarF
mis- = = srrtertirsn rhirh Nis MahaHtTs
rrfsrf.rltft fesis unrhis A. asrefs ara
) hieh sefn1s tn tAmm mfsretefuaaAs sis
fssf n rerf - iae n url1n rsiHeries
~ international emndr
aTssr nra unaf 80 f1 aHmt fhrf 49,
Iirr~rr.t s8r3atss arF frndrussrtrl rgin-
sfs ~ fsfe~nsfisf11 1sN - sfrrfnr
faa.tnds IN enf WeT e. to ~ -
~ FrfHss's rnntnHF# wits fafaBh
sunrtriss fi~aart sefrei rerfs E -
.'-anetanrrs rnfaHr auk rra
fiaf 81 go rr~ eEs fhH
e-ir a-aass 81 r-kanr = afafsas. 1f.z
errs~rma1 cf the Ersaa aistss. A.