West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-11-11
NOTE TO GREAT BRITAIN
HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC
Delivers Notable Address on Pre-
paredncss Before the Manhattan
Club IN New York-No Armins
tor Aggression bot for Defense
America Friendly with World

WASHINGTON. Nov. THE Uni
ted States i'm its latest note TO Great
Britain. made public here today. COW
ering exhaustively British interfer
ence with American trade since the
beginning of the Eui opean war, de-
clares that the so-called blockade in
stituted by the allies against enemy
countries on March IL. is ineffective.
illegal and indefensible." Notice Is
served that the American government
cannot submit To the curtailment OF
It's neutral rights" and il cannot
with complacence suffer further sub
ordination OF it's rights and interests"
Ambassador Page. to whom the note
was sent by special messenger for de-
livery to 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 majesty's govern
ment be governed. not by a policy of
eXpediency but by those established
rules OF international conduct TO
which Great Britain i'm the past has
held the United States to account
when the latter nation was a belliger
ent In struggle for national exist
ence"
Declaring the United States "unhes-
itatingly assumes" the task of cham
pioning the integrity of neutral rights.
the note proclaims that the American
government will devote its energies
to the task, exercising always an i'm
partial attitude.
The note. nearly $4,000 words I'm
length, was made public by agreement
between the state department and the
British foI eign office. II carries with
IL a voluminous appendix, giving the
text OF American naval instructions
issued In 1862 and a summary and
table showing hundreds OF vessels de-
tanned by British authorities since the
beginning OF the present war.
The body OF the note is divided into
80 points, dealing with all phases OF
;he contraband question, seizures and
cetentions. prior TO as well as after.
the so-called blockade was instituted.
and announces that n separate COM
munication will be sent soon dealing
particularly with the "propriety and
right OF the British government TO in
clude in their list OF contraband of war
certain articles which have been so
included"
In conclusion, after an argument on
the law and facts. Secretary Lansing
says:
i believe 1t has been conclusiveIy
shown that the methods sought to be
employed by Great Britain TO obtain
and use evidence OF enemy destination
OF cargoes bound for neutral ports
and to impose a contraband character
upon such cargoes are without justI-
hcation; that the blockade, upon which
such methods are partly founded, is
ineffective, illegal and indefensible:
that the judicial procedure offered AS
means OF reparation for any inter
hdIIohal INJURY is Inherently defective
Tor the purpose; and that I'm many
cases Jurisdiction is asserted in viola
ton OF the law of nations. The UNI
ted States, therefore cannot submit
TO the curtailment of its neutral rights
by these measures, which are admit
tedly retaliatory, and therefore lille
gal, In conception and in nature. and
intended to punish the enemies of
Great Britain for alleged illegalities
on their part. The United States
might not be in position to object TO
them II its interests and the interests
OF all neutrals were unaffected by
them, but. being affected IL cannot
with complacence suffer further sub
ordination OF its rights and interests