The sun., 1915-11-08
The Note TO Great Britain.

The Note TO Great Dritsln.
In considering our note to the Brit
iah Government, made public to-day in
England and America, It should be
borne in mind that It is not the first
communication on the subject Of re
strictions put on neutral commerce by
the British in the present war that has
come from our Department Of State.
Previous to the despatch Of this docu.
ment, seven others treating various in.
cidents and aspects Of the so-called
blockade decreed by the British were
despatched from Washington. These
have called forth from the British
Government eight explanatory replies
in which the purposes and methods Of
the blockade" were discussed. 1t is
TO the contentious and arguments con-
tained In these notes that the United
States through the person Of ROBERT
LANSING has now given answer; and
that answer In our opinion is COM
pletely convincing of the legality and
Justice Of Americas protest.
Under the Orders in Council Of
August 20 and October %. 1914. and
March II. 1915. Great Britain under.
took blockade Of Germany and Aus
tria. The execution Of this blockade"
admittedly did not fulfil the require
ments Of international law, and 1t was
conducted In manner infiicting new
and unprecedented hardships on the
owners Of vessels aud their cargoes
The blockade was not effective, In that
Germany continued her commerce with
the northern neutral nations; and
seizure Of ships on suspicion. with sub
sequent detention in port while search
was made for evidence against them.
produced n new element Of harass-
ment and cause Of loss to owners and
consignors. Great Britain, recogniz-
ing how great was the departure from
previous practices involved in her new
attitude, pleaded in extenuatlon that
modern conditions justified modifl.
cation of the hitherto accepted rule; {;
but the introduction Of such modifica.
lions at the will Of a bellieerent in the
midst Of war Is patiently equivalent to
the destruction of die law and the
subordination Of all neutral rights to
the immediate needs and designs Of
the belligerent- To accept such prin.
ciple. 10 admit that rights universally
recognized may bs invaded ana disre-
gaFded whenever Il suits the necessi.
f1ss Of one Power, Is to confess that the
law Is futile and a sham.
Manifestly II Is the duty Of all
neutral Powers, not only to themselves
and their people, but to each other,
and eventually to the belligerents, to
prevent this calamity which would
cxpose the commerce Of the world
TO the whims and caprices of
potentatcs and cabinets and de-
stroy the structure that has been
created to safeguard II. That duty
the United States has undertaken, for
the protection Of Its own citizens and
the rights Of all neutrals, and Secre
tary LANsING's note - forward our
mca sured decision with clarity and
precision. This is done with his
torlcal background Of uninterrupted
adherence by us TO the principles
Great Britain now disregnrds which
strengthens our hand and Immediately
establishes our good faith. We pro-
test against the lrregularity Of the
BLOCKADE" and the treatment Of our
ships, and in 50 doing we stand on
secure foundation Of unquestioned and
long accepted precedent.
The indictment Of the British pol.
icy which Secretary LANSING has
prepared carries with it conviction.
lis principal points he states briefly
In his thirty-third paragraph:
y believe II has been conclusively
shown that tho methods sought 10 b.
employed by Great Britain TO obtain
and use evidence Of enemy destina-
nation OF cargoes bound for neutral
portr and 20 impose a contraband char
Rcter upon such cargoes arc without
justification; that the blockade. upon
which such methods are partly founded.
p ineffective. Illegal and !ndefens!ble |;