Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-08

structions issued to American naval Of
ncers on August Is. 1882.
board Report cited.
8, In answer TO the British contention
that conditions relating TO the size and
seaworthiness OF modern carriers Justify
bringing vessels into port, there is cited
the report Of a board OF United States
naval experts, Just made, In which Il is
declared that II Is not necessary 70 re-
move every package Of a ships cargOe"
to establish the character and nature OF
It's 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 70 the belligerents
concerned IN that II would release bel
ligerent vessel overhsuling the neutral
from its duty OF search and set II free
for further belllgerent operatiens"
Z. and .. These points deal with new
procedures in prize courts. the effect OF
which. the United States complains, IL
ito subject traders TO risk Of loss, delay
and expense so great and 30 burdensome
as to practically destroy much of the
export trade of the United States 70
neutral countries Of Europe
Question of Proof.
10. II. These discussed questions OF the
burden OF the proof as 10 non-contra-
band OF goods consigned ''to order" the
United State arguing that none Of the
eases cited by Great Britain proves that
the burden OF proof can rightly be made
TO rest upon the claimants.
~ The greatly increased imports Of
neutral countries adjoining Great Brit
aims enemies cannot be accepted ar
laying down q Just or legal rule Of evi,
dence" that commodities are destined fot
ro-exportation to the belligerents. Such /
rule, Il IL argued. offers too great oppor-
tunity for abuse by the belligerents' and
Is opposed ito those fundamental prin-
ciples Of justice which are the foundation
Of the jurisprudence. OF the United states
and Great Britain"
Admission by Britain.
H. Attention Is directed to the fact that
Great Britain admits that It's exports to
neutral countries have also materially in
creased since the present war began.
Thus Great Britain" says the note.
'concernedly shares in creating condl-
tion which is relied upon as sufficient
ground to Justify the interception Of
American goods destined TO neutral Euro
pean ports. II British exports TO those
ports should be stiil further Increased IL
is obvious that. under the rule Of evil
dence contended for by the British gov
eminent. the presumption OF enemy des-
tinstion could be applied TO a greater
number OF American cargoes, ana ATneri-
can trade would suffer TO the extent that
British trade benefited by the increase
Great Britain cannot expect the rTnited
States to submit to such manifest injus-
tice or TO permit the rights OF its cltisens
to be 50 seriously impaired"
Maintains Right,
H. Whatever may be the contaotuyaI
conclusions drawn from trade statistion
the United States maintains the risht 10
sell gooda into the general stock OF a
neutral country. and denounces as llleraI
and unjustifiabie any attempt OF a bel-
ligerent to interfere with that risht on
the ground that II suspects that the pre-
vious supply OF such goods in the neutral
country which the imports renew or re-
place has been sold to an enemy. That
is matter with which the neutral vendor
has no concern and which can In no vav
AFFECT the rights OF trade. Moreover. even
II goods listed as conditional contrahana
arp destined 20 an enemy country through
= neutral country. that fact ia not in H.
self sufficient TO justify their seiEure.,
Has No other Course.
u In view OF these considerations the
United States announces Il has no other
course but Ito contest seizures of yessels
At sea upon conjecturaI suspicion and the
practice OF bringing them into port for
purpose Of search OF obtaining evidence" /"
and AIDA that f.relying upon the regard OF
the British government for the principles
OF justice 30 frequently and uniformly
manifested prior to the present war. this
government asks that the British govern
ment win instruct its officers to refrain
from these illegal practices"
Is Directing particular attention TO the
so-ealIed blockade measures" imposed
by the order IN council of March IL. the
British note OF July %. last, Ia cited 10
confirm the intention TO establish a
blockade" after over six months appll-
cation OF the blockade order, the note
says. the experience of American citi-
zens has convinced the government OF
the United States that Great Britain
has been unsuccessful In its efforts 70
distinsuish between enemy and neutral
trade"
HaFrassinR 20 Noutrals.
II. The practice OF requiring a eonaignoI
to prove that his shipments are MOI
bound to an enemy OF Great Britain, ever
II which articles are on the embargo lisi
OF the neutral country TO which they ar,
destined is Characterised as ''harrassinI
to neutral traders"
"a While the United States government
was at first inclined 70 view with len
iency the British measures. which wer,
termed In the correspondence. but no
In the Order in Council OF March II. i
blockade because OF the assurances O
the British government that inconven
ience 10 neutral trade would be mini
mixed by the discretion left 10 the oourti
In the application OF the Order In Conn
ell and by the instructions which II wa
said would be iasued 20 the sdministra
tive and other authorities having 10 d
with the execution OF the so-cailed block