Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-01-06
T0D|SCUSS PROTEST
FOREIGN SECRETARY GREY RE-
TURNS TO LONDON AND cABl- b
NET MEETING CALLED.
U. S. NOTE STUDIED CLOSELY
Communication Accepted az Friendly
Action Intended to Clear Up situa-
ton That Might Become Serious
Points in Protest Against Britain.

London, Jan. Cutting short his
vacation as a result of the American
protest against ; British interference
with United States commerce, Sir
Edward Grey, foreign secretary, re
turned Unexpectedly to London on
Wednesday and FASTENED to his office
In Downing street. - ~ .:.,lss
There he conferred at length with
Viscount Haldane, who had been act
ing as head of the foreign Office, and
later consulted with Premier Asquith
As result of the second conference
the entire cabinet was summoned to
discuss the protest from the United
States. .fg'ss,sE5
1t is understood that the. American
ambassador. will be invited by, Sir
Edward to discuss the whole question
with him very soon. Il. y. +, m
Officials Of the British foreign of
fee are closely studying the American
note of protest against the treatment
given to American commerce during
the war, and the indications are that
reply will be made as soon as pos
sible. Members OF the diplomatic
corps scout the idea expressed {, in
some quarters that the matter will
lead to friction between the United
States and England. a. .&sE@5j}
The foreign Office has accepted the
protest as a friendly action intended
to clear up a situation that might have
become serious had it been allowed to
continue without a clear understand
ing. Even the statement Of Presi
dent Wilson that compensation will
be asked because of the damage done
to American commerce has failed to
roll the British press. which is usually
quick to take offense. - y
; Washington, Jan. 2.-The general
points of the protest sent to Great
Britain by the United States govern
ment are as follows: ,* - G!.,...-s5. !
1. American cargoes have been
searched on the high seas-a belliger'
emit right that Is not denied-but the
ships also have been. diverted to ports
for further examination, a circum
stance held not justified under inter.
national law unless full proof Of hos
tile destination is presented at the
time, - &, u. =. :, Z; ,..sS5 h iIst
q. Great Britain has regarded abso
lutte Snd conditional contraband as in
the same class. The general under
standing in international law has been
that absolute contraband includes
those articles which are intended fol
use by a belligerent force and directly
destined to it. Conditional contra
band, including foodstuffs, comprises
the articles which are susceptible OF
use by an army or navy, but 1t must be
proven that, instead Of being intended
for the civil population of a country
these products are destined for use by
its army and navy. +: *sz 4. :Ss.:a sSs
3. Irrespective of the controversy
over what constitutes abolute or condi
tional contraband in the commerce be
tween a neutral and belligerent
country, the note sets forth that in re
spect to commerce between two neu
trail countries there ought to be nc
question Of contraband at all, for the
relations are those Of peace and not Of
war. Since the Civil war the United
States has upheld the doctrine Of "con
tinuous voyage" which permitted
seizure Of cargo even in it's journey
between neutral ports, provided even
tually it was destined for a belligerent
The American note. however. takes
the position that proof Of such hostile
destination must be shown at time Of
| seizure. g&.gsz VIZ! ~.
4. The American government con
tends that consignment sent to nc
specific consignee, known as a Ito or
der" shipment, is not of itself suspi
cious. 1t claims that this may be an
important circumstance in proving 8
case, but is Of no inherent value un
less other facts are adduced, also al
the time Of detention or seizure.
/ q