Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-08-11
ENGLAND'S REPLY TO AMERICA.
Sir Edward Endeavors to Sustain
British Activity i'm Seizures.

Washington, Aug. 4-Great Bri-
tains reply 10 the latest American
representations against interferences
with neutral commerce, made public
last night, rejects entirely the con-
tention that the orders in council are
illegal, and justifies the British
course as wholly within international
law.
"Unsustainable either in point of
law or upon principles Of interna-
tional equity" is the British reply to
the American protest against the
blockade of neutral ports, with an
invitation to submit to international
arbitration any cases iii which the
United States is dissatisfied with ac-
ton of British prize courts.
The British reply IS contained in
two notes, one supplemental. With
the notes was made public CORES
pOndence over the American steamer
Neches, seized by the British while
en route from Rotterdam to the Uni
ted States with goods of German
origin
Measures Reasonable.
In the general reply to the Ameri-
can representations against the Or
ders in council, Sir Edward Grey, the
foreign minister, addressing AmbaS-
sador Page, begins by expressing the
hope that he may convince the ad-
ministration in Washington that the
measures We have announced are not
only reasonable and necessary IN
themselves, but constitute no more
than an adaptation Of the old priu-
cipleS Of blockade to the peculiar cir
c0mstances with which we are con-
fronted."
Il need scarcely dwell" wrote Sir
Edward, ION the obligations incum-
bent upon the allies to take every
step in their power to overcome their
common enemy in view Of the shock
ing violation Of the recognized rules
and principles Of civilized warfare Df
which he has been guilty during the
present struggle"
Sir Edward then refers to alleged
atrocities in Belgium, poisoning of
wells in German Southwest Africa.
use Of poisonous gases against the
allied troops in Flanders, and finally
the sinking Of the Lusitana, to show
'how indispensable it is that we
should leave unused no justifiable
method of defending ourselves"
Eloc,%dc OF NeutrEs Ports.
Coming down to he Gacs ton at
the allied OluchaGo OF ucun1l ports.
the note continues.
'In the various notes ni.n nave
received from your eXcellency the
right Of a belligerent to establish
blockade Of the enemy ports is ad-
mitted-a right which has obviously
no value save in so far as it gives
power to belligerent to cut off the
scabOrne exports and imports Of his
enemy The contention which | un-
derstand the United States govern
ment now puts forward is that il
belligerent is so circumstanced that
his commerce can pass through ada
cent neutral ports as easily as
through ports in his own territory,
his opponent has no right to inter
fere and must restrict his measures
Of blockade in such manner as to
leave such avenues Of commerce still
open to his adversary. This is a con-
tention which his majesty's govern
ment feels unable to accept, and
which seems to them unsustainable
either in point of law or upon prin-
ciple Of international equity.
They are unable to admit that a
belligerent violates any fundamental
principle Of international law by ap-
plying blockade in such way as to
cut off the enemy's commerce with
foreign countries through neutral
ports If the circumstances render
such an application Of the principles
Of blockade the only means of maxi
ing it effective.
Precedent Set by United States.
"The only question which can
arise in regard to the measures re-
sorted to for the purpose of carrying
out blockade upon these extended
lines is whether, to use your excel
lency's words, they conform to the
spirit and principles Of the essence
of the rules Of war, and we shall be