The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-21
SENDS STRONG NOTE
TO GREAT BRITAIN
- Continued from Page One)

trial ports is a contradlft1on OF the
principle of free seas for free ships.
Sixth, that the assertion by Great
Britain of the principle of holding
up all vessels and rejecting diploma
tic Intervention is as Illegal as the
establishment by Germany Of a SUBJ
marine blockade.
Seventh, that the principle and
practice of retalis. ton between Ger
many and Great Britain. ian not de-
feat any of the; rights of neutral
commerce as defined and enjoyed be-
fore the commencement Of the pre-
sent war
Officials are 1low concerned in
speculation as to what the reply of
Great Britain WIFI be amid what the
United States must do IN certain
emergencies to be. created by that
reply.
If Great Britain stands firm, the
United States has two remedies. One
is to take up particular cases and as
sert that there has been "a. denial of
Justice" That is one of. the forms of
pursuing a case further when a eoun-
try thinks an injustice has been done
by foreign courts. The assertion that
there has been a defeat of justice is
a diplomatic action which can result
in the grave kind of situation.
The other recourse of the United
States is to treat Great Britain if she
comedies nothing, as a nation which
will not be bound by international
law. It has been frequently stated,
under color of local diplomatic sane
ton, that if Germany would not yield
to the United States this country
might break off diplomatic negotia-
TONS
There is some reason to assume
that Great Britain will make certain
concessions. 1t is known that Sir Ce-
Gil Spring. Rice, the British Ambas-
sador, has reported to his Govern
nient the state of public sentiment in
the United States, and has suggested
that it moderate its policy regarding
the treatment Of American trade.
Fhe>Amabssador leftTthe method and
extent of the, moderation to his
home Government.
In all quarters it is admitted that
the note will relieve the tension be-
tween this Government and Ger
many, for the apparent reason that
it complies very closely with Ger
many's main contention.
Germany held that the issues be-
tween this Government and Germany
were so interviewer with those be-.
tween the United States and Great
Bfftain that they must be taken up
together. TheBmted States has not
conceded this, but, accepting as true
the German Ambassadors frequent
arguments that Germany will make
no further concessions to this vi
try unless. Great Britain relaxes the
severity of its blockade, it has decid-
ed to t,Ike up the subject with Great
Britain Independently. The effect,
however, will be the same in the end.
If the United States succeeds in fore
ing Great Britain to conduct it's
blockade according to international
law it has the assurances Of Ger.
Emany that: it, too; viii observe the
rules Of international law, in its sub
masine warfare. A
iE9efe" is no division: among Ameri-
cakEdiplomats as TO- the; unassaailabili-
the propositions; 81 the note te:
Gat Britain. S:A F.
Lansing does::.n o inveigh
ag11kenst, the right of visit and search,
she i'd Great Britain choose to. ex4
ere e it legally. The position Of the
STAY Department is that vessels.
shoaaA be visited and searcehd "ff'
ne;a ssary", but expsditiously, and
releaaed, or that the cause Of deten-
ton must be taken up and adjusted
with equal expedition ".by diploma
cy."
This position Of the State Depart
ment is fatty contradicted by Lord
Crewe, and presumably will be by Sir
Edward Grey in the answer to the
note to Great Britain.
Mr.. Lansing has told Great Britain
that her order in council, as it af-
fectS and has affected American
commerce, is wrong in principle and
in fact, and can not be sustained un-
der international law.
CONGRESSMAN AIKEN'S' CANS
CONGRESSMAN Aiken hoe ho,,ohf ,