Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-08

Continued from Page one)
rights by these measures which are sd-
mittedly retaliatory. and therefore Illegal.
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. It cannot
with complacence suffer further subordi-
nation OF its rights and interests to he
plea that the exceptional graphic posi-
ton Of the enemies OF Great Britain re-
quires or justlfies oppressive and Illegal
practices.
Inv Must he Observed.
The government OF the United states
desires. therefore, TO impress most earn
estly upon his majestys government that
IT must insist that the relations between
its and his majestys government be gov
erned. not by a policy OF expef,sncy. but
by those established rules Of International
conduct upon which Great Britain In the
past has held the United States to ac-
count when the latter nation was bel
ligerent engaged in a struggle for ma
tionsl existence. II is Of the highest i'm
portance to neutrals, not only Of the pres
ent day. but of the future. that the prin-
cipies of international right be maintained
unimpaired.
This task of championing the integrity
Of neutral rights. which have received The
sanction of the civilized world against
the lawless conduct of bellIgerents nris-
ing out of the bitterness OF the great con-
flict which is now wasting the countries
n.
ingly assumes. and to the accomplishment
OF that task It will devote its energies,
exercising always that impartiaiity which
from the outbreak of the wa- 1t has
sought to exercise in its relations with
the warning nationA"
Note Dated October n.
The note is dated October q. and ack-
nowledges the notes Of the British gov
ernment dated January T. February 10.
June 22 July q, July 81 (two). August
13, and note verbale of the British
embassy of August 8. all of which re-
late to restrictions upon American COM
merce. The United States says at the
outset that It has delayed answering
these notes In the hope that the an
nounced purpose of Great Britain ''to ex-
ercise their belligerent right with every
possible consideration for the interests
of neutrals," and of causing ''tho least
possible amount of inconvenience to per-
sons engaged in legitimate trade" would
in practice not unJustifiably infringe upon
the neutral rights of American citizens.
TT is therefore a matter OF regret"
says the note, that this hope has not
been realized, but that on the contrary,
| interferences with American ships and
cargoes destined In good faith to neutral
ports and lawfully entitled to proceed
have become increasingly vexatious, caus-
ing American ship owners and American
merchants to complain to this govern
ment o. the failure TO take steps to pre-
vent an exercise of belligerent power in
contravention of their just rights.
| May Go to Extreme.
GAS the measures complained of proceed
directly from orders issued by the British
government; are executed by British au-
thorities and arouse a reasonable appre-
hension that. II not resisted they may be
carried to an extent even more injurious
to American interests. this government
directs the attention of his majesty s
government to the following considera-
tions:"
Secretary Lansing. in discussing the
question of compensation, denies that the
charges. such as pilotage. wharfage, un-
loading costs, ETC., against detained
vessel must be paid by the claimants,
and adds that the United States 10 ''loathe
to believe that such ungenerous treat
ment will continue to be accorded Ameri-
can citizens any waivers OF indemnity
exacted from American citizens under
such conditions of duress,' 1t is declared,
cannot preclude them from subsequently
obtaining redress through diplomatic
channels.
i N Iannin rs.I,,.....