The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-06-17
j. S. CALLS BRITISH
BLOCKADE ILLEGAL
Wilson to Demand Right to Trade
With Germany.
SEEKS FREEDOM OF CARGoES
President to Hold That Noncontra.
band Goods Eound for the Port
Of Enemy Is Not Subject to
Seizure.

washington June lZ.-lne new
American note to Great Britain on the
rights Of neutral commerce will make
the same demand of that government
that the United States has already
made of Germany-namely. that she
shall adhere to the recognized princi-
pies Of international law in her treat
ment of American citizens and their
property.
The state department is now en-
gagged in preparing data for the use
State Lansing In the construction OF
the note to Great Britain. The data
will have to do with the many cases
In which, according to the view of this
government, Great Britain has violat-
ed the rights of American commerce.
The note will soon be ready for dis
patch to London.
While rtilerating it's earlier state
ment that this government might be
ready to admit that the old form OF
CLOSE" blockade is no longer practi-
cable, the note will maintain, on two
points, that Great Britain's present
method of blockade is illegal These
points will be:
That Great Britain can find no war
rant in international law for extend
ing her blockade to the ports OF neu-
trail countries adjoining the enemy
territory.
That her blockade does not operate
against traffic between Scandinavian
and Danish ports and Germany is,
therefore, in violation OF interna-
tional law, which holds that block
ade must apply to all countries alike.
VIII Cite Violations Of Law.
The note will then indicate the
practices Of Great Britain with re-
gard to American commerce, which
It regards as direct violation of in.
ternational law. These are as fol-
lows:
1. At the beginning of the war
American cargoes on English vessels
all over the world and ON belligerent
vessels In ports under the control Of
England were taken over and the an
nouncement was made that Great
Britain regarded them as subjects for
prize court proceedings. The position
OF the American government is that
such action was plainly in violation of
international law. This government
will maintain that the only authority
Great Britain had was to stop the car
goes reaching their enemy destination.
The note will say that the goods
shipped before the war could not be
regarded as contraband and were not
subject to seizure, and the obligation
was on Great Britain to turn them
back to the shippers.
2. the seizure Of American cargoes,
on the assumption that goods shipped
to order even to neutral countries
are intended for the enemy's govern
ment. The note will emphasize the
illegality of the seizure of these car
goes without even semblance of
proof that they were intended for an
enemy destination.
Noncontraband Cannot Be Seized.
This government will state its un-
Outstanding of the law to be that non.
contraband, even If bound for an
enemy port, is not subject to interfer-
ence unless a legal blockade is main
tanned; that contraband, II destined
for the territory of the enemy, is sub
ject to seizure, and that conditional
or relative contraband is subject to
seizure II intended to be used by the
enemy government, but is not subject
to interference, beyond examination,
II intended for the civil population.
The note will make a firm demand
that Great Britain adhere to these
principles of international law.
3. Assessment of excessive fees
against the owners of seized cargoes.
Strong complaint will be made against
Great Britain's practice Of charging
the owners of the cargoes fees, freight,
demurrage and other costs. In many
cases these unwarranted charges have
eaten up the value of the cargoes.
4. Treatment Of cotton cargoes.
Cotton is still on the noncontraband
lis, but the note will point out that
every cotton cargo since early in
March has been seized and held up,
even when destined for neutral ports,
on suspicion that it is intended for
the Germans. The note will state
that there is no justification what
ever for the seizure of these cargoes,
inasmuch as cotton Is not on the con-
traband list and the blockade in its
present form is not legal.
VIII Deny Right to Force Sale.
Great Britain's claim that she is
prepared to. pay for these cargoes at
the price in which the contracts were
made will be answered by the state
ment that she has no legal right to
compel American owners of goods to
sell to her. The note will point out
also that the compensation offered by
the British government cannot be re-
Rarded as adequate, because her prac-
tice OF selling cargoes is destroying
the American market and in many
cases renders the seller responsible
for loss incurred by the buyer through
inability to take advantage Of increas.
!.