The Washington herald., 1915-08-03
BRITAIN DEFENDS
BLOCKADE POLICY
Lengthy Explanation Of Inter-
ference with Trade Con-
tanned in Three Notes.
OFFERS LEGAL DEFENSE
England May Delay Sending of
Further Protests by Govern
ment of U. S.
OFFERS LEGAL DEFENSE

lengthy defense of the British
orders in council. under which neutral
trade with Germany is being prevent
ed. will be laid before the American
public tomorrow morning, when notes
received from Great Britain on these
subjects will be published. = =
The State Department now has three
notes from the British government, all
Of which will be published tomorrow
simultaneously in the United States
and Great Britain. The first note was
received last week, and the other two
were received yesterday
The note received last week. il of a
general character and deals with the
practices of the British in interfering
with shipments of American goods to
Germany via the neutral countries
adjacent to Germany.
One of the notes received yesterday
discusses the American note of three
weeks ago, in which the United States
filed a caveat, serving notice on the
British government that it would not
consider itself obliged to accept any
decisions of British prize courts not
based on the generally accepted prin-
ciples of international law. This was
filed as a result of indications that
the British prize courts might accept
the British orders in council as of
equal force with the rules of interna-
tional law.
Refers to the Neches.
The third note is a reply to Ameri-
can representations in the case Of the
Neches, an American ship detained by
the authorities when it attempted to
carry to the United States goods of
German origin consigned to Americans
and exported via Holland.
All the notes. except the one regard
ing the Naches case, are said to be
lengthy. 1t is expected that the three
communications together will consti-
tute the most complete defense of its
own practices that the British govern
ment can present. Consideration of
these communications, which are of a
strictly legal and technical character.
will undoubtedly delay for long time
the sending of any further representa-
tions to Great Britain on the subject
of the trade controversy between the
two governments.
The note received last week is under
stood to constitute a legal defense OF
the British practices as regards sits
virtual blockade of neutral countries
adjacent to Germany. Decisions of
United States courts. particularly in
several Civil War cases. are cited by
the British in support of their con-
tchiioh thdl iSdh PidSIiSc Soh-
tains precedents for just what the
British are doing today with reference
to trade with Germany.
q. s. Has Right of Appeal.
The British point out that British prize
courts have yet to pass on the issues and
cases raised by the orders in council re-
garding trade with Germany. and that
the United States should certainly be will |
ing to await judicial Interpretation of the |
acts of the British authorities. 1t Is also |
called to the attention of the United |
States government that even If the prize |
court decisions are unsatisfactory to |
Americans in interest, they will have the |
right Of appeal to the higher courts of
Great Britain for redress. Finally. this |
government is reminded that still further |
remedy is open to the Americans in the /
arbitration treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, which. 1t is
pointed out. affords a means of adjust
ment IL all other methods fail.
1t is understood that the British COM
munications also contain an exhaustive
analysis of the statistics Of American
trade with the neutral countries Of Eu-
rope adjacent to Germany. These are
cited in support of the British contention
that American trade is really not suffer-
ing at all. as evidenced by tremendous
increases of exports from the United
States to these countries.