The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1915-07-22
RAISES new POINT
NOTE TO ENGLAND WILL OUES=
TION HER BLOCKADE :
UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION

tive, as Baltic Ports are Open
Germans Trade With Norway and
Sweden.
In it's note to Great Britain, which
is soon to go forward, the United
States, according to the New York
Times, will not only reiterate it's con-
tention that Great Britain has no
right to blockade the Scandinavian
coasts, but will emphasize the view
that the blockade as 1t is being car
ried out under the order in council,
is discriminatory.
In setting up this contention the
United States will point out that
while North Sea coasts OF Germany
and Scandinavia are blockaded, and
American trade with Norway, Swed-
en-, Denmark, and Holland Is cut Off,
the Baltic coast of Germany Is free
for trade with ports of Norway and
Sweden.
The American government will
point out that England has sent no
warships into the Baltic to prevent
this traffic, and that as a result a
large trade has been in progress be-
tween Sweden and Germany.
The United States will insist that
IL
full right under International law
to trade with these neutral countries
without restraint.
While the recent short communica-
tion to the British government, which
is given in another column headed
States It's Claim" came as a result
OF representations made by the Chi
cago packers, the warning was not
limited in its scope qr application to
the p4ekeTs,N cases, but was intended
to be broad enough to cover every
American interest or right under in
ternational law as affected by the
manner Of the enforcement of the
British order in council as result Of
which American commerce of legit
innate character has been harassed
burdened and stifled by the action of
the British government in seizing
OBTAINING, requisitioning, and confis-
eating American cargoes.
High officials of the state depart
ment explained that it was not neces-
sary, in order to maintain American
fights, to notify Great Britain Of this
governments determination to insist
upon neutral commercial rights under
the principles Of international law.
but that, in view Of differences that
have arisen between the two govern
ments over the application of the
law, 1t was deemed wise to serve an
other warning on Great Britain to
avoid MISUNDERSTANDING.
It was said that the warning also
carried the purpose of notifying the
British government that the United
States was mot asleep at the switch, "
to quote the phrase of high official.
in its determination to protect Ameri-
can commercial rights, but was thor
ll 70 tha ct
,duced in cumulative effect by the dis
regard of American rights in British
treatment Of cotton, meats, tobacco,
and other export products as well as
by the refusal of the British govern
ment to permit between fifty million
dollars and one hundred million dol
lars worth Of American-owned goods
that were contracted for and manu-
factured in Germany to be shipped
through the neutral port OF Rotter-
dam to the United States.
The attitude OF the United States
toward British interferences with
commerce has been absolutely con-
sistent since the beginning OF the war
and Is identical with its position to-
ward the German policy of submarine
warfare. In the controversy with
Germany and Great Britain, the Unit
ed States has discarded the Declara-
tion Of London and municipal legisla-
tion by both beligerent governments,
and has planted itself upon principles
of international law.
In the controversy with Germany
1t has been insisted that Germany has
no right to destroy life by indiscrimi-
nate attack upon merchantmen and
1t has been demanded that the rule OF
visit and search be applied. In the
controversy with England equally
definite rules and principles of inter
national law are being insisted upon.
But just as the Germans, through
the PRONUNCIATION OF the order insti.
tuting submarine attacks on unarmed
merchantmen, which brought on the
b8sIta issue, SO the British gov
ernment~ has sought by orders In
council, prize court proceedings, and
other municipal legislation, to restrict
recognized international law rights to
which American commerce Is entitled.
The German war zone decree and
- the British order in council and the
manner OF their enforcement are re-
4 garded by the United States as a
yprScticai assertion of unlimited bel
ligerent rights over neutral commerce
within the whole European war area
and an almost unqualified denial OF
the sovereign rights OF the nations
now at peast. The United States
denies emphatically any of the groups
OF beIligerents possesses any sun.
limited" rights over neutral com.
merce or citizens at sea.
On the contrary 1t is the contention
OF the American government that
these belligerents possess only limit.
ed rights over the trade or citizens OF
neutrals on the high seas. and that
II. zoIx a. lx
prevention, IL possible, of contraband
trade with either enemy, and the
prevention of hostile acts. Even then,
the United States insists. the agents
OF the belligerents must observe rules
that are In accordance with well-rec-
ognized principles Of law so as tC
avoid derogation OF neutral rights.
y A nations sovereignty over its own
y ships and citizens under its own flag