Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-06
u. S. TAKES ISSUE
WITH ALLIES ON
EMBARGO DECREE
Protest Against British Orr
der in Council Made
Public.
OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE
TO NEUTRAL NATIONS
Note Declines to Admit Right to
Halt All Commerce With
Germany.
WOULD SEEK FULL PREPARATION
Possibilities Of Serious Interruption
OF American Trade Re-
ferred To.


Its note to Great Britain. announcing
that 1T could not admit" either the
right Of the allies or their claims for
Justification In placing an embargo on
all commercial intercourse between
Germany and neutral countries.
To admit It," says the communca-
tion' would be to assume an attitude
OF unneutrality toward the present
enemies of Great Britain. which OBJ
vtously would be inconsistent with the
solemn obligation Of this government
In the present circumstances, and for
Great Britain to make such claim
would be for her to abandon and set
at naught the principles for which
she constantly and earnestly has con-
tended in other times and circum-
stances"
The note reviews at length the legal
phases of Z blockade of belliEerent
territory, and virtual blockade Of neu-
trail coasts. In conclusion, the United
States states Its expectation that Great
Britain. after having considered "the
possibilities of serious interruption of
American trade" under the order In
council, will take the steps necessary
to avoid them. and. in the event that
they should unhappily occur will be
every act which. under the rules of
international law, constitutes n VIOLA
tton of neutral rights"
MEASURE NO EXCUSE
FOR UNLAWFUL ACTION
The American communication Inter.
prets the circumstances under which
Great Britain claims TO be justified In
adopting retaliatory measures toward
her enemies as merely reason for
certain extraordinary activities'' by
her naval forces, "and not an excuse
for or n preclude to any unlawful
action"
IF the course Of tho present enemies
of Great Britain" the note adds,
should prove, in fact. to be tainted by
illegallty and disregard of the prin-
ciples OF war sanctioned by enlight-
ened nations. it cannot be supposed,
and this government does not for n
moment suppose. that His Majesty's
government would wish the same taint
to attach to their own actions"
Ambassador Sharp. at Paris, was in
structed to present copy OF the
American note to Great Britain to the
French admiralty, whose decree had
not been received officially in WASH
ington, but 1t was understood here to
be identical with the British order In
council, and the American govern
ment, therefore. made similar reply
TEXT OF BRYAN's NOTE
TO AMERICAN AMBASSADOR
Department Of State,
Washington, March 30 1915.
You are instructed to deliver the
following to His Majestys government
In reply to your numbers 1895 and 1898
OF March IS:
The government OF the United States
has given careful consideration to the
subjects treated in the British notes
OF March 13 and March Is, and to the
British order in council of the latter
date
These communications contain mat
ters OF grave Importance to neutral
nations. They appear to menace their
rights OF trade and intercourse. NOT
only with belligerents, but also with
one another. They call for frank COM
ment, In order that Observation-Disclosures
may DO avoided. The government OF
the United States deems 1t its duty.
therefore. speaking in the sincerest
spirit Of friendship. to make its own
view and position with regard to then,
Enthusiastically clear.
The order In council OF the 18th OF
March would constitute. were its pro-
visions to BIO actually carried into er-
Feet as they stand, a practical assertion
or unlimited belligerent rights over
neutral commerce within the whole
European area, and an almost unauali-
fed denial OF the sovereign rights OF
the nations now at peace
This government takes It for grant
ed that there can be no question what
those rights are. A nations soyer-
eighty over its own ships and citizens
under it's own flag on the high seas
in time OF peace is OF course, unlimited:
and that sovereignty suffers no dimu-
milton in time Of war, except insofar
as the practice and consent of civilized
nations has limited 1t by the recogni-
tion OF certain now clearly determined
rights. which 1t Is conceded may be
exercised by nations which arc at war.
RIGHT OF VISIT AND SEARCH
CONCEDED TO RELLIGERENTs
a belligerent nation has been con-
ceded the right OF visit and search. and
the right OF capture and condemnation,
II upon examination neutral vessel
is FOUND to be engaged In unneutraI
service, or to be carrying contraband-
OF war intended for the enemy's gov
ernment or armed forces. 1t has been
conceded the right to establish and
maintain blockade OF an enemy's
ports and coasts. and to capture and
condemn any vessel taken in trying to
break the blockade. 1t is even CON.
ceded the right to detain and take
to its own ports for judicial eyamina-
tion all vessels which II sunnects for