Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-04

Washington, Aug. 3.-Great Britain's replies to the latest American repre- sentations against interferences with neutral commerce reject entirely the contention that the orders-in-council are illegal and justify the British course as being wholly within inter- national law.
 Invites Arbitration.
 "Unsustainab1e either in point of law or upon principles of international equity" is the British reply to the American protest against the blockade of neutral ports, with an invitation to submit to international arbitration any cases in which the United States is dissatisfied with the action Of Brit ish prize courts.
 Great Britain's reply embodied in two notes, one supplemental, was made public here tonight and in London simultaneously by agreement between the two governments. With the notes was made public also the correspon- dence over the American steamer Ne ches, seized by the British while en- route from Rotterdam to the United States with goods of German origin. All the correspondence aggregates seven thousand words.
 New Applications of International Law Changed conditions of warfare, the British note contends, require new appIlCdliOI O1 IH0 pTlLClpIcS Ol AlLeE- national law. The advent of the sub marine, the airship and the alleged atrocities by German troops in Bel gium and cited as justification for the exercise of extreme measures The blockade is justified on the contention that the universally recognized fun damental principle Of a blockade is that a belligerent is entitled to cut off ''by effective means the sea-borne commerce of his enemy"
 Great Britain Will Continue to Apply
 Orders.
 The note reiterates that Great Bri- tain will continue to apply the orders complained of, although not without every effort to avoid embarrassment to neutrals, and observes that the American statistics show that any loss in trade with Germany and Austria has been more than over-balanced by the increase of other industrial activ- ities due to the war
 Adaptation of Old Principles to New
 Conditions.
 In the general reply to the Ameri- can representations against the or ders-in- council. Sir Edward Grey, the foreign minister, addressing Ambassa- dor Page. begins by expressing the hope that he may be able to convince the administration in Washington that the measures we have announced are not only reasonable and necessary in themselves. but constitute no more than an adaptation of the old prin- ciples of blockade to the peculiar cir cumstances with which me are con- fronted."
 Measure of Retaliation.
 T need scarcely dwell'' wrote Sir Edward. lon the obligations incumbent upon the allies to, take every step in their power to overcome their com mon enemy in view of the shocking violation of the recognized rules and principles of civilized warfare of which he has been guilty during the present struggle"
 Refers to Atrocities of Germans.
 Sir Edward then refers to atrocities In Belgium. poisoning of wells in Ger man Southwest Africa. use of poison pus gases against the allied troops in Flanders and finally the sinking of the Lusitania, to show ''how indispensable 1t is that we should leave unused nc tustiflable method of defending our selves."
 Blockade of Neutral Ports.
 Coming down to the question of the allied blockade of neutral ports the note continues:
 sIns the various notes which have received from Your Excellency, the light of a belligerent xto establish 6 blockade of the enemy ports is admit led. a right which has obviously nc value save in so far as it gices power 10 q belligerent to cut off the sea- borne exports and imports of his en- bmy. The contention which I under Stand the United States government how puts forward is that If belliger- snt Is so circumstanced that his com nerce can pass through adjacent neu- tral ports as easily as through ports In his own territory, his, opponent ha4 ao right to interfere and must restrict ais measures of blockade in such 6 manner as to leave such avenues oi commerce still open to his adversary This is a contention which His Majes- N's government feel unable to accept md which seems to them unsustain- lhle either in point of law or upon ErilclRless ef 1intsrpational ;equity,4