Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-01-16
STOP 1.-THE ONLY ANSWER TO
ENGLAND.

protest against the wanton violation
OF American rights on the nigh seas,
has been published II is conceived
in tho usual English spirit. It vir-
tually declares that British war
ships, in violation Of international
law, will continue to stop American
ships on the high seas and bring
them into British ports to be
searched. This is TO be done even
though the American ships subjected
to this treatment be destined for
neutral countries. In justification
OF this outrageous conduct it is
pointed out in Sir Edward Grey's
note that the exports from the United
States to neutral countries have in
creased greatly since the beginning
of the war. The British Foreign
ONCE takes the view that this in
crease justihes the suspicion that a
large part Of these exports ultimately
will reach Germany, which is conti-
guous to the neutral countries.
It amounts, then, to this: Ameri-
can overseas trade is to be harrassed
and seriously interfered with on the
unconfrmed suspicion that American
goods ultimately viii find their way
to England's encmies. To show that
we do not do Sir Edward Grey an
injustice in our paraphrase OF his
note, we quote his own words: I'VE
are confronted with the growing
danger that neutral countries con-
tiguous to the enemy will Become on
a scale hitherto unprecedented a base
of supplies for the armed soldiers of
our enemies and for materials for
manufacturing war armament. The
fY.a 10 f.rtrr. fNF inn, ~ Oh, ~ hCX
strong this tendency is, but we have
no complaints to make Of the at
titude Of the governments of these
countries, which, so far as we arc
aware, have not departed from pro-
per rules Of neutrality. We endeavor
in the interest of our own national
safety to prevent this danger by in
tercopting goods really destined for
the enemy without interfering with
those which are bona fide neutral"
In plain words, American COM
merce is to be hamporcd seriously,
because England is not sure that
neutral countries may not forward
to Englands enemies certain Ameri-
can imports. Note that there is no
question Of the right of American
shippers to send American merch-
andise to these countries. The United
States is q neutral country. So, too,
are Holland and Sweden and Nor
way and Denmark and Italy and
Spain Between all these countries
and the United States trading is on
the same footing as it was before the
first hostile gun was fired in tho
present war. That is to say, it is
absolutely free. Consequently any
interference with it BIZ any Of the
belligerent nations is a violation Of
international law and contemp-
tuous disregard OF the rights of
those whose property is seized on
! the high seas and conliscated.
American citizens have suffered such
losses. When their Government en-
ters a protest, England answers back
that she will continue her Diratical
practises
An organ Of English opinion, the
London Daily Telegraph, thus aneers
at the American citizens who are
robbed Of their property on the high
4 seas: TIt lis not impossible that the
traders in the United States who feel
most bitterly the pressure Of our
contraband policy are those who
feed that business and do SO at an
enormous profit One has no right
to blockade runners prices II there
is to be no objective blockade"
This means that England has the
right to attempt to blockade the
high seas, the highway of nations,
/ because a strict blockade Of German
ports would involve serious danger
to British warships from submarine
attacks. Ono can imagine how the
London Telegraph would have de-
nounccd the Washington Govern
ment, If during cur Civil War Ameri-
can warships had seized British yes
sells bound for Mexico und had
! brought them to an American port
! to bc searched for tho reason that
I they were suspected of having on
board war material which, after it
was landed on Mexican soil, could
be sent across the Rio Grande to the
Confoderates. Fifty years ago Eng
land would not have tolerated for
! one moment such treatment of her
/ ships as that she now metes out to
| American ships. She would have
been right to resist such treatment,
even il she had to 80 to war to up
hold the honor of the British flag.
| What she would not have submitted
to, will the United States -humbiy
and patiently endure?
There is no question Of right of
neutrals to trade freely with one
another England has tramplcd on
that right by seizing over seven
hundred neutral ships since last
August, when the present war began.
| And now when our Government en-
ters q protest against such proceed
ings, the British Secretary for For
eign Affairs virtually declares that
tho Government he represents will
pay no need to that protest.
The New York Herald, voicing the
sentiments OF q subsidized pro-Bri-
tish press, warns President Wilson
not to be TOO irsistent in demanding
that England shall respect American
rights on the seas. I'VE would
give, it says, friendly warning TO
President Wilson that the present is
o time for extreme care and caution
in any action which viii have a bear
ing on our foreign relation, especially
! 1.pol, fbp cOlreQ of the war; This