The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-21
THE LAW WITHOUT THE
PROFITS.
st. Louis Glo~be-Democrat.

Our expressed opinion that the
British ministry would make no at
tempt to c%ontrovert the position TAX
en- by the United States touching the
rights of neutrals is confirmed in the
preliminary note sent by Sir Edward
Grey to Washington. The British
secretary for foreign affairs prom
ises a supplementary note, and Sec
rotary Bryan is quoted as saying that
this must be received before a for
NAL reply is made. No exception can
be taken to that position as to the
length of negotiations, since it must
be assumed that exchanges between
the two governments on the legal ba-
sis tacitiy conceded in. the British
note will lead to early adjustments
which will remove many Of the diff
fculties. Surprise was expressed in
official circles at Washington yester-
day at the position taken by the Brit
ish Foreign Office that Great Britain
can not be expected to confine herself
strictly to accepted rules in interna-
tional procedure. Whether such
surprise grows out of conceding in
disputable law, or out of British ex-
pectation, or desire, that neutral
countries should become partisans, in
a a by a waivure of their rights,
it is a fact that Great Britain is max
ing no pretense of standing on inter
national law and usage because she
is well aware there is no usage OF
law to stand on. 1t is no less a fact
that what she has been doing to neu-
trail commerce is neither more OF
less than would be undertaken by any
~belligerent similarly situated. The
question is wholly n of neutra
rights against |belligerent interest.
Sir Edward Grey INDUCES in much
and very skillful, special pleading
He cites the fact of largely increased
importations of copper from the Uni
ted States into Italy, the Netherlands
and Scandinavian countries, as pre-
sumptiYe evidence of shipments des
tined 10 reach Germany or Austria
A recent statement made by the ltal
ian ambassador at Washington
showed the increase in Italian impor
tations Of copper from this country tt
be due to an embargo laid upon tina
metal by both Germany and Austria
from which Italy had drawn its sup
plies at the opening of the war. TIL
increased copper importations OF neu
trail countries in North Europe ma,
not be sa readily explained. In an,
event the contention is special plead
ing since it eyades discussion Of tn
plain proposition that it is a neutra
right to ship even c~ontraband int
neutral countries, a right hithert
universally conceded and upon whicl
Great Britain has, in particular, a
some times laid emphasis. Soon al
ter the beginning of hostilities is wa
announced that England had entere
into an arrangement with Hollan
under which such shipments conl
enter Dutch ports unmolested, unde
a Dutch Government guarantee tina
they should not reach hostile hands
At that time we expressed a doubt G
the practicability Of such an arrange
ment. If it has failed, as is no'
seemingly admitted, the failure is nc
ours, nor does it in any way effect GU
rights as neutrals to an unlimite
commerce with neutral countries.
A plea in avoidance Is that, unde
modern conditions. the right t
search necessarily includes the RICH
to seize and take into port for tn
purpose Of the search, No such RICH
has ever been recognized nor doe
Sir Edward claim that 1t has beer
He seeks only to justify the proceed
ings as a necessity growing out {
new conditions. He fails, howeYe,
to prove his case, his statemen