Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-07-28
COTTON NOTE FROM BRITAIN.
U. S. government Considering Posi-
tSon Held by England.


which restrict neutral commerce, was
received here to-day. 1t holds that
the orders are within International
law, although they may involve
new application Of principles, and
argues that it is proper to await
judicialS Snterpretation.
The new note, in courteous Ian
guage, holds that Great Britain's ac-
ton is Justified by decisions Of the
United States Supreme Court in cases
arising during the Civil War. Any
differences with the United States
over what is termed the new appli-
cation 81 principles are held to be
proper for submission to judicial set
Elements
Secretary Lansing announced re-
ceipt of the note. 1t will be for
warded Ito President Wilson at Cor
nish, NH, and will be given out here
for publication in the morning papers
"Wednesday.
TheEkeynote Of the British note Is
declaration that the British gov
ernment has steadfastly held to the
broad principles Of international law
in all that has been done under the
order7ipscouncil, and that, if neu-
tral government feels aggrieved,
there is3a remedy in the courts or,
eventually, in arbitration.
Generally, it is held that when q
neutraltcountry or port is made a
base ofeperations against belliger-
ent, the other belligerent is justified
in blockading such country or port.
The action Of the United States in
the Civil War in blockading the Brit
ish Island of Bermuda is cited as a
Warrantfor the action of the British
government in preventing goods from
reaching Germany from the United
Stateslthrough Denmark, He Land or
SwedehSS -.a
Tnepriginal blockade on the west
side o2Sasrmuda having proved de-
ficient fSE& american warsnfps were
stationed on the east side, and
throughout the remainder of the war
no goods were permitted to reach
Bermuda that might be trans-shiDned
70 the Confederate States. That ac-
tlon was sustained by the United
States Supreme Court.
Tie new note makes the point that
the only way to ascertain the real
destination of supplies from America
consigned to neutral countries Of
Northern Europe is TO consider the
amount of the goods consumed in
their normal trade, for it is contended
that they are so much in fear of
Germany that they fail to proven, the
reshipment Of such goods into Ger
many.
On July II the United States gave
notice that it did not accept the or
der-in-cOuncil as a substitute for in
ternational law, so far as it affected
American commerce.
With the sending of last weeks
note to Germany on submarine war
rare the general impression given in
offcial quarters was that the new
protest to Great Britain would go
forward within another week. The
arrival, however, of new note from
Sir Edward Grey, arguing, at length
in defense Of the order-in-council, has
given State Department lawyers ad-
ditional phases Of the case for con-
sideration.
To-day's note, it is understood,
does not reveal any important devia-
tion in the argument already made
by Great Britain. but lays added en-
phasis on the policy pursued by the
United States in the Civil War as a
precedent justifying the British posi-
ton.
Legal experts Of the government
understood that the new British note.
in their opinion, does not affect the
American position in insisting that
non-contraband goods destined to or
from Del.Igerent through a neutral
country Is not subject to the rules of
blockade. In support Of this the
American government stands on the
famous Matam0ros cases in the Civil
War, in which the United States Su-
preme Court ruled that the non-con-
traband portion Of a cargo shipped to
Texas, then llockaded, must be re-
leased since a blockade could not le-
gally be operated against a neutral
coast.
1t is probable that Secretary Lam
sing Will draft new note on the en-
tire subject and submit it to Presi-
dent Wilson on his return from New
Hampshire.
Second Note on Way.
Washington, July 27.--A request
to-day by Sir Edward Grey British
minister OF foreign affairs, that the
American State Department withhold
from publication In tomorrow
mornings papers, as originally plan
ned, the text Of yesterdays British
reply to the American protest against
the British order in council, caused
much speculation IN official circles.
No explanation was made except that
another note on the same subject
was promised from London within a
week.
Secretary Lansing declined to ad-
vance any theory for the supplement-
ing OF the first communication. An