The Washington times., 1915-04-06
BRITAIN AND FRANCE
MAY SEND NO REPLY
President Indicates Protest
Against Order in Council
Does Not Demand Answer.

Whether the English and French gov
ernments will make reply to the Ameri-
can note relative to the British order
in council intended to effect the COM
mercial excommunication of Germany
from the rest of the world, is the sub
matte quarters today.
What the nature Of the replies will be,
If they are made, is likewise a sub
ject of interesting discussion. 1t is the
general opinion, however, both here and
on the other side Of the Atlantic, ac-
cording to all reports from there, that
the allies will not be swerved an inch
from their determination to bottle up
Germany. regardless Of the protests of
neutrals.
Does Not Demand Reply.
president Wilson was asked today
whether reply was expected to the
american note. He indicated that IL
was not certain there would be a reply,
since the note does not demand one and
is q statement of the American position
ratner than an argumentative document
IL Is generally believed hero
that London and Paris will make replies
sooner or later to the American repre-
sentations.
Considerable significance was attached
aere n,h ~ the clause OF the American reply
which practically enunciated the Ameri-
can attitude toward Germany.
lt the course pursued by the present
enemies Of Great Britain" the note
read, should prove to be In fact tainted
by illegality and disregard of the prln-
lx,a lt.rlA 49,
nations. 1t cannot be supposed :
that his majesty's government would
wish the same taint to attach to their
own actions or would cite such illegal
acts as IN any sense or degree a Justif-
part"
This paragraph OF the reply is re-
garded by diplomats here as the most
unreserved unr and uncompromising utter
made concerning the submarine block
ade OF England. and IT is generally held
to be close t. an expression of official
opinion of Germany's war policy.
Another significant feature OF the COM
munication is held to be the clause
which practically recognizes the right of
belligerent to impose a blockade Of
the entire ocean, as a condition brought
aobut by the great changes which have
occurred In the conditions and means
Of naval warfare"
International law specialists are con-
vinced that the British government will
not permit pressure from this Govern
ment to cause let-down in the strin-
gency of the present naval blockade OF
Germany. but it Is also held Great
Britain probably will make all fnan-
cial amends to the United States for in
reference with neutral trade that the
conditions seem to Justify.
To Demand Strict Accounting.
That this Government will demand a
strict accounting in this phase of the
matter was indicated by the text of the
State Departments reply. which, in
part, stated in uneauivocal terms that
the possibilities of serious interrup-
ton of American trade under the order
In council seem liable to cOnsti-
tute so great an impediment. and en-
barrassment to neutral commerce that
the United States apprehends many in
references which will impose upon his
majestys government heavy RESPONSE
bilities for acts of the British authori-
ties clearly subversive of the rights OF
neutral nations q ipb