The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-11-12
UNITED STATES REJ[CTS
POLICY OF kXfEDlENCY
INSISTS RELATIONS BE GOVERNED
BY ESTABLISHED RULES.
Note to Great Britain Declares Block
ade by Allies ''inehectiYe. Illegal
ard ndefenSible."

Win american IraQe since lE6 DeSIu-
ming of the European war, declares
that the so-called blockade Instituted
by the allies against enemy countries
on March II is ineffective, Illegal ani
indefensible." Notice is served that
the American government 'can not
submit to the curtailment of its neu-
tral rights" and it can not with COM
pIacence suffer further subordination
OF it. rights and interests
Ambassador Page to whom tae note
was sent by special messenger for de-
livery to the London foreign office, was
instructed by Secretary Lansing ''to
impress most earnestly upon the Bril-
ish government that the United States
must insist tEat the relations between
it and his majesty's government be
go erned, Eo1 ty policy Of eXpedit
ency, but by those established rules Of
International conduct to which Great
Britain in the past mas held the United
States to account when the latter ma
ton was a belligerent engaged in
struggle for national existence
Declaring the United States 'unhes-
itatingIy assumes" the task of cham
pioning the integrity of neutral rights,
the note procIaims that the Americas
government will devote its energies to
the task, exercising always an i'm
partial attitude
The note, nearly $1,000 words in
length was made public by agreement
between the state department and the
British foreign office. 1t carries with
il a yoluminous appendix, giving the
text of the American naval instructions
Issued in 1862 and summary and
table showing hundreds Of vessels de-
-tained by British authorities since the
beginning of the presert war.
The body of the note is divided into
35 points, dealing with all phases Of
the contraband question, seizures and
de,entions, pricr to, as well as after,
the so-cauei blockade was instituted
and announces that separate com
munication will be sent soon dealing
particularly with the "propriety and
right of the British government to in
clude in their list of contraband Of!
var certain articles which have been
50 included"
In conclusion, after an argument Oh
tie law and facts, Secretary Lansing
says:
q believe it has been concIusively
shown that the methods sought to be
employed by Great Britain to obtain
and use evidence of enemy destination
of cargoes bound for neutral ports and
to impose contraband character upon
such cargoes are without justification;
that the blockade upon which sucE
methods are founded, is ineffective, il
legal and indefensibIe; that the judi
cial procedure offered as a means OF
reparation for an international injury
is inherently defective for the purpose;
and that in many cases jurisdiction is
asserted in violation of the law OF
nations. The United States, therefore,
can not submit to the curtailment of
It's neutral rights by these measures,
which are admittedly retaliatory, and
therefore illegal. in conception and in
nature, and intended to punish the en-
emies of Great Britain for alleged ille~
galities on their part. The United
States might not be in position to
object to t1em if its interests and the
interests of all neutrals were unaffect-
ed, it can not with complacence suffer
further subordination of its rights and
Interests to the plea that the excep-
-tional geographic position of the enc
mics of Great Britain require or JUS
Sify oppressive and illegal practices.
"The government of the United
States, therefore, desires to impress
most earnestly upon his majesty's gov
ernment that it must insist that the
relations between it and his majesty's
government be governed, not by pol
icy of expediency, but by those estab
>lished rules of international conduct
upon which Great Britain in the past
has held the United States to account
when the latter nation was a bellig-
erent engaged in a struggle for ma
tional existence. 1t is of the highest
to neutrals not only of the
present day, but of the future, that the
principles of international right be
maintained unimpaired
><rThTc task of chamnioOjno tho IN