Arizona republican., 1915-11-08
United States Sends Note
Covering EXhaustively
British Interference with
American Trade Since the
Beginning of War
INTERNATIONAL LAW
MUST PREVAIL
America Unhesitatingly
Assumes Task of Cham
pioning Integrity Of Her
Neutral Rights VIII De
vote Energies to that End
Republican a. p. Leased wire1

Republican A. p. Leased Wire1
WASHINGTON. d. e. Nov. -
The United states in its latest note
to Great Britain made public here
today. covering eXhaustivelyy British
interference with American trade
since the beginning of the European
war. declared that the so-called
blockade instituted by the allies
against enemy countries on March
II. is ineffective, illegal and in
defersible." Notice is served that
the American government cannot
submit to the curtailment of ITS
neutral right and it cannot with
ccmpIacence suffer further subordin-
alton of its rights and interests
Ambassador Page. to wOhm the
note was sent by special messenger
for delivery 10 the London foreign
office. was instructed by Secretary
lansing to impress most earnestly
upon the British government that
the United States must insist that
the relations between It and his
Maiestys government be governed,
not by a policy of expediency but
by those established rules of inter
national conduct to which Great
Britain in the past has held the
United States to account when the
latter nation was a belligerent en-
qaaed in struggle tor national
existence"
DECLARING the United States sun
hesitatingIy assumes the task of
championing the integrity of neutral
RIGHTS. the note proclaims that the
American government will devote its
energies to the task, exercising al
ways an impartial attitude.
The note. nearly $4,000 words in
length was, made public by agree
ment between the state Department
and the British Foreign office 1t
carries with it voluminous appendix
giving the text of American naval in
srructions issued in 1852 and sum
mary and table showing hundreds OF
vessels detained by British author1-
ties since the beginning of the pres
cnt war.
The body of the note is divided
into 35 points. dealing with all
phases OF the contraband question,
seizures and detentions, prior 10. as
We'll as after. the so-called blockade
was instituted. and announces that
a separate communication will be sent
soon dealing particularly with the
property and right of the British
government to include in their list
cf contraband of war certain articles
which have been so included"
In conclusion. after an argument
on the law and facts. Secretary
Lansing says:
Il believe it has been conclusiveiy
shown that the methods sought to be
employed by Great Britain to obtain
and use evidence of enemy destina-
ton of cargoes bound for neutral
ports and to impose a contraband
character upon such carSoes are
without justification; that the block
ade. upon which such methods arc
partly founded, is ineffective, illegal
and indefensible: that the judicial
procedure Offered as a means of rep
-ration for an international injury *
Inherently defective for the purpose;
and that in many cases jurisdiction Is
asserted in violation of the law of
nations. The United States. there
fore. cannot submit to the curail-
men OF its neutral rights by these
measures. which are admittedly re-
taliatory and therefore illegal, in
conception and in nature. and IN