The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-07-03
BR|TA|NDEFENDsACT
ENGLAND EXPLAINS SEIZURE or
SHIPS TO Y. 9. BUT DoEs
NOT ANSWER PROTEST,
BLOCKADE TO BE TIeHTENED

Avoids Answer TO Chief Issues Raised
BY American Government to
End Diplomatic Discussion Of Cues
tIon--No Relief 10 Seen.
Washington. June 26-Lord Crewe's
memorandum to Ambassador Page.
dealing with the complaint of deten-
tion of American cargoes bound for
neutral ports. was made public on
Thursday by the state department.
State department officials would not
comment on the memorandum. In the
opinion Of experts on international
law who have followed the controversy
between the two governments. the
memorandum II not Of q character to
afford much satisfaction. II holds out
little expectation of material relief to
American commerce from the. hard
ships inflicted upon It by British regu-
lations and violation OF the principles
of international law as pointed out by
the United States in its note Of
March 80. Consequently its effect,
II is believed, will be rather to sharp
en- the edge of the issue between the
two governments.
In his note of transmittal. Ambas-
sador Page says that the memoran-
dunn is not intended as an answer to
the principles set forth in the note
Of March 30. but merely an "explana-
ton of concrete cases and the regula.
tiops under which they are dealt with"
The British memorandum made
public Thursday contains distinct de-
nial Of certain rights for which the
United States in the note of March
30 contends. So to an extent at least
It must be taken as an answer to that
note.
In the note of March 30 the United
States asserted that q nations SOW
ereignty over its ships at sea suffered
no diminution In times of war "ex-
cept in 30 far as the practice and con-
sent of civilized nations has limited It
by the recognition Of certain clear
ly defined rights which It Is conceded
may be exercised by nations which
are at war" these admitted rights
Of the belligerents are visit and
search. capture and condemnation II
visit and search reveals contraband.
an finally the right of blockade Of
enemy ports.
The complaint Of the United States
was that the interference of Great
Britain was not confined within these
rights, but went far beyond them.
The principal complaint Of the United
States has been that Great Britain
has held up American cargoes of nom
contraband to the great detriment of
American trade with neutral coun-
tries.
The British offer to pay has not
been accepted by the United States as
full recompense and It certainly has
not been regarded as justifying such
high-handed action.
Lord Crewe In his memorandum
makes no reference to the principles
of international law which the United
States demanded that Great Britain
respect and In the view taken here
seeks to override the American pro-
test. He details the Concessions
which he says Great Britain has made
to American commerce. such for IN
stance as the payment OF s460.000 to
various American shippers of cotton.
Two paragraphs Of Lord Crewe's
memorandum were considered of spe-
cial Importance as indicating that
Great Britain intends to tighten,
rather than loosen. her blockade.
These were:
His majesty's government win be
prepared herafter to give special con-
sideration to cases presented to them
and involving particular hardships, II
the goods concerned are required for
neutral governments or municipalities,
or in respect Of works Of public utility
and where payment can be shown 10
have been made before the first Of
March. 1915.
with the above exceptions his
majesty's government regret they
cannot continue to deal through the
diplomatic channel with individual
cases, but they would again point out
that special provision Is made for the
consideration Of such cases in the
prize court"
Paragraph 16 was taken to mean
that hereafter the United States would
experience greater difnculty in getting
any goods from any port which Great
Britain regards a. an enemy port.
and paragraph IL II taken to be notice
that Great Britain intends to end
further diplomatic discussion Of her
seizures.
The British embassy announced that
In cases where It was impossible for
American shippers to get goods out of
Germany before June Is the time has
been extended. II will be necessary,
however. for shippers to show that
they had not time mp to Juno Is to get
their goods out of Germany.