New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-09
Plans Supplementary Note
Dealing with List of
COntraband.
LONDON'S ANSWER
NOT DUE FOR WEEKS
Argument Will Declare Blockade
Effective and In Accord with
Laws Spirit.


Washington, Nov. S.-An answer to
the latest American note TO Great Brit
ain is not expected for several weeks
and perhaps months. While waiting
for the reply, however. the State De
partment will prepare and transmit
supplementary note protesting certain
features of the British contraband list,
and particularly the inclusion OF cotton
in the list Of absolute contraband:
Admitting the general right Of bel
lgerents TO detrmine for themselves
what is contraband, the State Depart
ment believes that international law
lays down certain principles when
must be observed. Great Britain Will
be reminded that kuseia, in response 10
protests from neutrals, removed cotton
from the contrsband list in the war
with Japan, and that the British gov
eminent itself has held that cotton
must be kept on the free list.
The British view of the recent note,
as II is understood here, is that Secre-
tary Lsnsing's argument is technical
rather than logical As to the effective
ness Of the British blockade, Great
Britain is declared TO have demon
strated that the blockade is effective
In every particular, and that the eX-
ceptions pointed out by Secretary Lans-
ing are voluntary.
Exceptions Are Valid
The British government Is expected
TO argue that the relaxation OF It's rigid
blockade laws in favor OF neutrals can
not be held TO invalidate the blockade,
and that there is no Improperly IN
making exceptions in favor Of British
merchants along with those OF neutral
countries.
Great Britain, 1t Is believed, also will
reply that her submarines operating
against German shipping in the Baltic
Sea have removed the objection that
blockade is discriminatory. Illicit traf-
fic between Germany and Scandinavian
countries, it is asserted, has almost
entirely ceased.
Search in port. to which the Ameri-
can government objects. Is defended on
the ground that the perils OF search at
sea are far greater than IN any pre-
yious war. owing to German submarine
activity and the presence of mines.
Search in port, il is alleged, is actually
less vexatious to neutral shipping, be-
cause vessels, instead of being halted
al sea under all kinds OF conditions and
weather, are required merely 10 call at
Kirkwall, where there are facilities for
quick search and verifcation of papers
and cargoes. 3,
Great Britain. it is said, recognized
the validity of the American blockade
in the opening months of the Civil
War, when only a few ships patrolled
the long coast line of the Confederacy.
Actually, il is held, the blockade was
not effective. but the British govern
ment recognized that it was reason.
ably effective, within the meaning OF
international law.
The practices Of the United States
blockadng squadron, II is asserted,
were at that time not less vexauous
than are those Of Great Britain in the
present war. Not only were British
and other neutral vessels seized when
attempting to run the blockade proper,
but one ship, it is believed, was
stopped in the Irish Sea, and Others
in waters equally remote.
"The rule of reason must be applied
in this case as in all others where the
letter of law seems TO contradict the
spirit" said leading exponent of the
british cause to-day. at cannot be
denied that in principle neutral coasts
must not be blockaded But such a
rule was established TO protect neu-
trails. not to hamper belligerents. and
much less to nullify an advantage OBJ
tanned by superiority OF naval
strength.
Were Great Britain to accede to the
American contentious in full, her
superior feet would be practically
vaiueless, or would have at most only
a defensive value. Germany would be
able TO trade as extensively with
America and the rest of the world as
if we had not cleared the German
feet from the seven seas and with II
the great German merchant marine.
Observe Spirit of Law.
"All that Great Britain is doing now
is 10 enforce against Germany the
measures that would be enforced
against us if Germany controlled the
seas. We would be completely cut of
from commerce. II merely happens
that Germany's seaports are in neu-
trial territory, and we are therefore
obliged to violate the letter Of the law
in order 70 preserve the spirit.
"It has not been shown that leglti-
mate neutral trade has suffered be-
cause Of the blockade. American ex-
ports have increased enormously in
nearly every field. Germany. on the
other hand. is undoubtedly feeling the
effects. We are hitting our enemies
without injuring our friends. Ihat
should be the test Of the justice OF
our war measures"