The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-01-07
TODISCUSS PROTEST
FOREIGN oEcRETARY GREY RE.
TURNS TO LONDON AND cAeL
NET MEETING CALLED.
U. S. NOTE STUDIED CLOSELY
Communication Accepted as Friendly
Action Intended to Clear Up situa.
tIon That Might Become Serious
Points in Protest Against Britain.

London, Jan. 2.-CuttiBg 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 hastened to his office
in Downing street
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 a result of the second conference
the entire cabinet was summoned to
discuss the protest from the United
States
II is understood that the American
ambassador will be invited by Sir
Edward to discuss the whole question
with him very soon
Officials of the British foreign of.
fee are closely studying the American
note of protest against the treatment
given 10 American commerce during
the war. and the indications are that
reply will be made as soon as pos,
slble. 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.
The foreign office has accepted the
protest as a friendly action intended
to clear up 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
Washington. Jan. 2.-The general
points of the protest sent to Great
Britain by the United States govern.
ment are as follows:
l. American cargoes have been
searched on the high seas-a balIiger.
ent 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
tima.
2. Great Britain has regarded ahso.
lutte and 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 for
use by belligerent force and directly
destined to it. Conditional contra.
band, including foodstuffs, comprises
the articles which are susceptible ni
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.
3. Irrespective of the controversy
over what constitutes abolute or cOndi.
tional contraband in the commerce be-
tween neutral and belIigerent
country, the note sets forth that in re.
spect to commerce between two neu.
tral countries there ought to be no
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 ICON.
tinuous voyage which permitted
seizure of a cargo even in its Journey
between neutral pC:ts, 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.
4. The American government con-
tends that a consignment sent to no
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
case. but is of no inherent value un-
less other facts are adduced, also at
the time of detention or seizure.