Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-11-11

IS cited, IN which it IS stated that it
IS not necessary to remove every
package OF ships cargo to establish
the character and nature of her
trade that the facilities for boarding
and inspection Of modern ships are in
fact greater than in former times, and
that to permit ships to be taken into
port would be & direct aid to the
belligerents concerned in that it
would release a belIigerent vessel
overhauling the neutral from its duty
of search and set it free for further
belligerent operations"
Certain points deal with new pro-
cedure in the prize courts, the effect
of which the United States complains
is TO subject traders to risk of loss,
delay and expense so great and so
burdensome as to practically destroy
much Of the export trade of the Uni
ted States TO neutral countries of Eu-
rope"
Maintains Right of Sale.
Whatever may be the conjectural
conclusions drawn from trade stats
tics, the United States maintains the
right to sell goods into the general
stock of a neutral country. and de-
nounces as illegal and unjustifable
any attempt Of beIligerent to inter-
fere with that right on the ground
that it suspects that the previous
supply Of such goods in the neutral
country, which the imports renew or
replace, has been sold to an enemy.
THAT is a matter with which the
neutral vendor has no concern and
which can in no way affect his rights
Of trade. Moreover, even if goods list
ed as conditional contraband are
destined to an enemy country through
a neutral country, that fact is not in
itself sufficient to justify their seiz-
IRE"
In view Of these considerations the
United States announces that it has
no other course but ito contest seiz-
ures of vessels at sea upon coniec-
tural suspicion and the practice of
bringing them into port for the pur-
pose Of obtaining evidence, for the
purpose of justifying prize proceed
ings, of the carriage of contraband
or of breeches Of the order in coun-
Gil Of March II. Relying upon the
regard of the British government
for the principles of justice so fire.
quently and uniformly manifested
prior to the present war, this govern
ment anticipates that the British gov
ernment will instruct their officers to
refrain from these yexatious and il
legal practices"
Mistakes Neutral Trade.
After more than six months appli-
cation Of the blockade order, the
note says the experience of American
citizens has convinced the govern
ment of the United States that Great
Britain has been unsuccessful in her
efforts to distinguish between enemy
and neutral trade.
The government of the United
States has viewed with surprise and
concern the note adds, the attempt
of his majesty's government to con-
fer upon the British prize courts jur-
isdiction by this illegal exercise of
force in order that these courts may
apply to vessels and cargoes of neu-
trail nationalities, seized on both high
seas, municipal laws and orders which
can only rightfully be enforceable
within the territorial waters of Great
Britain, or against vessels of British
nationality when on the high
seas
'The United States government
feels that it cannot reasonably be ex-
pected to advise it's citizens to seek
redress before tribunals which are, in
its opinion, authorized by the unre-
stricted application of international
law to grant reparation, nor to re-
frain from presenting their claims di-
rectly to the British government
through diplomatic channels