The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-11-08
AMERICA WILL.
NO SUBMIT
INTERFERENCE
Note is Sent Great Britain
on Blockade Instituted
by the Allies.
SAYS INEFFECTIVE
AND INDEFENSIBLE
Notice Served That America
Will Not Allow Her
Rights Curtailed.
SAYS INEFFECTIVE
AND INDEFENSIBLE
HY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington, Nov. THE United
States in its latest note to Great
Britain, made public here today,cov-
ering exhaustively British ihterfer-
ence with American trade since the
beginning of the European war, de-
clares that the so-called blockade in
stituted by the allies against enemy
countries on March IL, is ineffective,
illegal and indefensible." Notice is
served that the American government
cannot submit to the curtailment of
It's neutral rights" and it cannot
with complacence suffer further SUI
bordination Of its rights and inter-
ests."
Ambassador Page, to whom the
note was sent by special messenger
for delivery to the London foreign
Office, was instructed by Secretary
Lansing ITO impress most earnestly
upon the British government that the
United States must insist that the
relations between it and his majesty's
government be governed, not by poll
icy of expediency but by those estab-
lished rules of international conduct
tp which Great Britain in the past
Ms held the United States to account
when the latter nation was belliger-
emit engaged in a struggle for ma
tional existence"
Declaring the United States "un-
hesitatingly assumes" the task of
championing the integrity Of neutral
rights, the note proclaims that the
American government will devote its
energies to the task, exercising al
ways an impartial attitude.
The note, nearly $4,000 words in
length, was made public by agree
ment between the state department
and the British foreign Office. 1t car
ries with it voluminous appendix,
giving the text of American naval
instructions issued in 1862 and i
summary and table showing hundrce
of vessels detained by British au-
thorities since the beginning of the
present war.
The body of the note is divided
into 35 points, dealing with all phases
of the contraband question, seizures
and detentions, prior to, as well as
after, the so-called blockade was in
stituted, and announces that sep
arate communication will be sent soor
dealing particularly with the PRO.
priety and right of the British gov
eminent to include in their list d
contraband of war certain articles
which have been so included"
In conclusion, after an argument or
the law and facts, Secretary Lansing
says:
II believe it has been conclusivel,
shown that the methods sought to bt
employed by Great Britain to obtait
and use evidence of enemy destina
ton Of cargoes bound for neutra
. ports and to impose a contrabant
character upon such cargoes are with
out justification; that the blockade
upon which such methods are partl!
founded, is ineffective, illegal, ant
indefensible; that the judicial pro
cedure offered as a means of repara
ton for an international injury is in
herently defective for the purpose
and that in many cases jurisdiction
is asserted in violation of the law o
nations. The United States, there
fore, cannot submit to the curtail
ment OF its neutral rights by thes
measures, which are admittedly re
taliatory, and therefore illegal, i
conception and in nature, and intend
ed to punish the enemies of Grea
Britain for alleged illegalities o
their part. The United States Nigh
not be in position to object too ther
~ IT'S interests and the interests o
Nh neutrals were unaffected by then
but, being affected, it cannot wit
complacence suffer further subordins
ton Of its rights and interests to tn
plea that the exceptional geographi
position of the enemies of Grea
Britain require or justify oppressiv
and Illegal practices.
sThe government Of the Unite
States, desires therefore, to impress
most earnestly upon his majesty
government that it must insist ths
the relations between it and h
majesty's government be governe'
not by a policy Of expediency, b.
fr~,ti-r~a ~ Poe, Ssv.,