The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-08
United States Insists Relations
With Great Britain He Gov.
erned by International Law
WILL DEVOTE ENERGY TO
CHAMPIONlNC NEU1RALS
British Measures Declared to
lie Without justification. In
effective. illegal and lndefen-
sible

Washington. Nov. THE long
awaited note to Great Britain on prac-
tices interfering with American trade
was made public tonight. In it the
United States serves notice on Great
Britain:
THAT 1t does not recognize as
legai and effective the British block
ade OF Germany and Austria Hun
gary.
2-That 1t cannot submit to the
curtailment Of its neutral rights by
measures which are admittedly re-
taliatory and thereby Illegal"
3--That Is must insist that the
relations between it and the British
Government be governed not by a
policy OF expedtency, but by estab-
lIshsd rules Of international law.
THAT 1t unhesitatingiy assumes
the task OF championing the integrity
OF neutral rights and will devote its
energies to that end.
II Vtg0HMna O0nunciAtion.
The note - Z whole Is q vigorous
dAnunciation Of thss British Govern
ment tor the illegality OF It's meas
ures In regard u neutral shipping
without justification" ineffective. 9
Illegal" ''indsfensible" and .fn viola
lation OF the law Of nations are some
OF this Governments Characterization
OF the British practices.
Contracted with the notes to der
many on the submarine controversy,
the communication to Great Britain.
however. contains no phrases sucl,
as strict neutrality" will omit no
word or act" and similar expressions
used by the President in pressing his
demands on Berlin. The note to tile
London foreign Office Is devoid OF ir~ :
plications. such as were contained il
the German notes, or drastic action
by the United States in the event that
the grounds of complaint are not
removed The note to Great Britain.
as viewed here. still shows this Gov
eminent at loss for means with
which to bring upon England any
stronger pressure than that of diplo-
matte representations.
Involves Only Property Rights.
The administration holds that 1t
was impossible to address Great Bril-
tain In quite the same manner Re
Germany on the submarine issue. for
the reason that the latter controversy
involved an issue OF human lives,
while the issues with Great Britain
concern only property rights. In
the latest communication to the Brit
ish foreign Office, however. many evil
dences Of the aim OF this Govern
ment to treat all belligerents on ex-
actly the same footing. so far a.
demands upon them to observe inter
national law are concerned. In this
note the United States accepts even
more frankly than In the controversy
with Germany the role of champion of
neutral rights in the present war. Sec
rotary Lansing says:
TT 10 Of the highest Importance to
neutrals not only Of the present day,
OF international right be maintained
and unimpaired. This task of cham
pioning the integrity of neutral rights
which have received the sanction of
the civilized world against the law
less conduct Of the belligerents arising
out OF the great conflict which Is
now wasting the countries Of Europe,
the United States unhesitatingly as
sumes and to the accomplishment Of
that task 1t will devote Its energies.
exercising always that impart.alfty,
which. since the outbreak OF the war.
II has exercised In It's relations with
the warning nations"
The British government IL sum-
moned to obedience of international
law in the following DAntence, re-
garded here as the strongest in the
entire note:
.The government OF tho United
States therefore. to impress most ear
nestIy upon His MaJesty's government
that Il must insist that the relations
between II and His Majesty's gov
eminent be governed not by q policy
Of expediency. but by those estab-
lished rules Of International conduct
upon which Great Britain in the past
has held the United States to accept
when the latter nation was q beliger-
ont engaged In a struggle for national
existence"
Tho note contains more than 10000
words. 1t includes among other ex-
hibits a long Hist OF neutral ships
which have boon Illegally interferei
with by the British. This list. with
the details in each case, constitutes
in effect, the Indictment against Great
Britain, on which the note proper Is
based.
Three Causes for Protest.
The note groups the causes for pro-
test by the United States under three
heads. Under these are covered all
the acts which are held to have In
fringed upon American trade rights.
The three groups OF offences are
/. The seizure and detention Of YES
sells on the high seas on mere sus-
picion.
!. The so-cailed blockade policy.
!. The unsatisfactory and unaccsp-
tabIs chasaeter 81 The regulations
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