Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-26
REPLY Of ENGLAND
IS RECE|VEDBY j. s.
: -.
New Note Contends Orders in
Council Are Within Inter-
national Law.

Great Britain's reply to the American
note of March 80 protesting against en-
forcement Of the orders in council
which restrict neutral commerce was
received here today. 1t holds thata the
orders are within international law.
although they may involve a new ap-
plication OF principles. and argues that
it is proper to await judicial interpre-
tation. y
The new note. In the most courteous
language holds that Great Britain's ac-
ton is Justified by decisions Of the United
States Supreme Court in cases arising
during the civil war.
For Judicial Settlement.
Any differences with the United States
over what is termed the new application
of principles are held to be proper for
submission to judicial settlement
Secretary Lansing today announced re-
ceipt of the note, but made no announce
ment of it's contents. 1t will be forwarded
to President Wilson at the summer White
House at Cornish, N. H., and will be given
out in Washington for publication in
morning papers Wednesday.
Note Discusses Each Point.
The British note Is a long. exhaustive
legal discussion of each point made in
the American correspondence. It's key
note is a declaration that the British
government has steadfastly held to the
broad principles of international law
in all that has been done under the
order in council. and that II neutral
government feels aggrteved at the ap-
plication Of the order there is q rem
edy in the courts. or. eventually, In
arbitration. "a. r,
trail country or port is made base of
operations against belligerent. the
other belligerent is justified I'm blockad-
ing such country or port. The action OF
the United States during tke civil war
in blockading the British Island of Ber-
muda is cited as warrant for the ac-
tion of the British government in pre-
venting goods from reaching Germany
from the United States through Den
mark, Holland or Sweden.
The original American blockade on
the west side of Bermuda proved de-
ficient, the American warships were
stationed on the west side and through
out the remainder of the war no goods
were permitted to reach Bermuda that
might be transhipped to the Confeder-
ate states. That action was sustained
by the United States Supreme Court, :,
Assuming a sufficient legal basis for
through the neutral ports of northern
Europe, the new note makes the point
that the only way to ascertain the real
destination Of supplies from America con-
signed to those neutral countries is to
consider the amount Of the goods con-
sumed in their normal trade, for it is
contended that the smaller northern
European countries are SO much in fear
of Germany that they fail to prevent.
through actual embargoes, the reehipment
Of such goods into Germany.
July II the United States gave notice
that it did not accept the order in coun-
Gil as a substitute for international law
so far as it affected American commerce.
1t was in effect q reiteration of the
statement made in the American notes
of March 80 and October %, that the
United States government will insist
that the rights and duties Of the United
States and it's citizens in tho present
war shall be defined by the existing rules
of International law and the treaties Of
the United States. irrespective of the
declaration Of London"