The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-11-12
Note to Britain Declares Block
ade Is "Ineffective, Illegal,
IndefenSibIe."
AMERICA CHAMPIONS
RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS
orders in Council Attacked-Demand
Made That Law, Not Expedi-
ency Govern Actions Of
Combatants.

Washington.-A vigorous declara-
ton of intention to champion the in
tegrity Of established neutral rights
against the lawless conduct of bel
which the United States has addressed
lgerents" is contained in the note
TO Great Britain as a response to the
several communications of that ma
tion concerning the American pro-
test against British interference with
American trade with Europe. Incl
dentally notice is served that the
United States does not recognize as
legal the British blockade of Euro
pean ports.
The note to Great Britain, which is
dated Oct. 81, and which, because of
its length, was sent to London by spe-
cial messenger, was made public by the
State Department. 1t was presented
to the British Foreign Office by Wal
ter Hines Page, the American Am
bassador in London.
The note, document of 1000
words, not inclusive of pertinent pa
pers, including a copy Of instructions
to American naval officers in the civil
war. and statement regarding YES
sells detained by British authorities"
is signed by Robert Lansing, Secre
tary of State, who in the name OF his
Government serves notice on Great
Britain that the United States can
not submit to the curtailment Of it's
inht tov hxy Ill oh nrI
In Council and prize court rules. The
British measures, 1t is asserted "are
admittedly retaliatory and therefore
illegal, in conception and in nature"
"Freedom of the Seas" Issue.
II is asserted also that the United
fer further subordination Of it's rights
and interests to the plea that the ex-
ceptional geographic position of the
enemies of Great Britain require or
justify oppressive and illegal prac-
tees"
In this language the United States
Government confirmed its prior assur-
ances to Germany in one of the Lusi-
tania notes, that 1t would insist upon
"the freedom of the seas"
There is nothing in the American
note to show that this Government
is prepared to go to extremes to up
hold the principles which II has de-
termined to champion, but the Ian
guage of the communication is such as
TO indicate that the Government feels
that 1t cannot tolerate any longer the
practices Of Great Britain in dealing
with American ships and cargoes des-
tined for neutral countries of Europe.
This Government assures Great Bri-
tain that it intends to be impartial in
dealing with the European belliger-
ents, but at the same time shows that
II feels that il has ample reason for
being angry over the British detention
policy.
Secretary Lansing declares that the
British practice of OBTAINING American
ships and cargoes on mere suspicion
OF an ultimate enemy destination is
without justification. The British
blockade OF neutral ports is termed
ineffective, illegal. and indefensible."
The British judicial procedure offer.
ed as means OF reparation Is desig-
mated as inherently defective for the
purpose" and the claim Is made that
IN many cases jurisdiction is assert
ed in violation of the law of nations"
ut is incumbent upon the United
States Government, therefore," says
Mr.. Lansing after citing reasons to
show the ineffectiveness and unfair
ness of the British blockade. ito give
the British Government notice that
the blockade. which they claim to
have instituted under the Order of
Council of March IL. cannot be recog.
nized as legal blockade by the Unit
ed States"
Wars Increases Of Trade.
Mr.. Lansing refrains from comment
ing on statistics furnished by Great
Britain TO show an increased export
trade OF the United States TO the neu.
trail countries of Europe since the war
began, further than to suggest that
the British figures fail to take into ac-
count the Increased price OF commodi.
ties resulting from the war and dim
mutton I'm the volume OF trade OF the
neutral countries with the warning ma.
tions which caused them to buy in
other markets.
II is contended by Secretary Ian.
sing that many detentions were made