Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-08-04
Sir Edward Grey's Answer
Puts In Plea Of "COnfes-
sion and Avoidance"
SAYS GERMANY'S COURSE
LEAVES NO ALTERNATIVE
Looks As Though Administra-
ton Must Lay Down Or
Try the Embargo
(By G. P. Stewart.)

Omitted Press start correspondent
Washington, Aug. 4.-' We will CON
tinue to apply these measures (the
blockade Of Germany with every de-
sire to occasion the least possible in
convenience to persons engaged in legi-
innate commerce.
This, briefly, is England S answer toI
the American protest against the block
ade of neutral ports through which the
British believe goods may reach Ger
many, and the Interference with neu-
| tral commerce through enforcement of
the British order in council. 1t is this
rejection of all American contentious,
with the flat statement that the meas.
ures complained of will be continued,
that President Wilson and Secretary Of
State Lansing have to consider the
| framing q rejoinder to Great Britain.
| The three communications from Eng
land made public last night and which
reject the administration s demands for
| freedom on the seas, are friendly in
tone They are not as friendly as Ger
many's last notes in verbiage, but are
none the less so in effect.
Note Is Friendly
Sir Edward Grey wrote as IL he took
it for granted that the two countries
were upon the most cordial terms and
that the matters under discussion could
be dealt with freely and fully. The
phraseology Of the notes is amicabIy
crisp and businesslike.
The foreign minister said ae hoped
to convince the administration that in
view of the violations of international
law of which Germany is guilty that
the blockade methods are "not only
reasonable and necessary, but consti-
tute no more than an adaptation Of the
old principles of blockade to the pc
culiar circumstances with which we are
confronted ~
In the principal note, Sir Edward
Grey refused to "admit that belliger-
ent violates any fundamental principal
OF international law by applying a
the enemy's commerce with foreign ma.
tions through neutral pots.
The American position was declared
to be unsNstainable either in point OF
law or upon principles Of international
equity. "
Lays 1t On Germany.
Germany's alleged atrocities in Bel
gium, the use of poisonous gases in
Flanders and changed conditions OF
warfare owing TO the submarine and
airship were cited as showing chow in
dispensable it is that we should leave
unused no iustifiable method of defend
ing ourselves. And England main
tanned that the blockading of neutra
ituh ttstt nN
: national law. In support of the Brit
isn position, figures were cited 10 show
that American industry had not suffer
ed by enforcement Of the order in cOun
ell, as such losses as may have beer
suffered through stoppage Of trade witt
Austria and Germany had been made
up by increases elsewhere. America :
court decisions dealing with civil wal
cases were also cited to show that The
United States regarded the blockadinl
Of neutral ports as legal.
Appeals to Good Feeling
The supplementary note is an extend
ed defense Of the British prize courts
England invited the United States L
submit any prize court cases witt
which it is not satisfied to arbitration
DuI an cAltnutu lcSul uIBuWtnb wa
presented in defense Of prize cour
e being governed by international as wei
+ as municipal law as the order in coln
ell provides
In the Natchez note, dealing will
r the detention of the vessel and carg,
: because the latter was alleged 10 hay
q come from Germany, an appeal wa
$ made to the good feeling Of the Unite
c States If undue hardship was inflict
7 ed in this case, II was stated an exam
nation would be made. While Ger
man submarines, however, continue I
K attack vessels as at present wthou
< regard to the nature of their cargo 0
I detention aud without regard for IN
!. safety Of the passengers aud crew, 81
!, seems neither reasonable nor just IN
!, note declared, " that his majesty 5 gov
" ernment should be pressed TO abandu
the rights claimed, and to allow good
from Germany to pass freely throug
waters effectively patrollcd by Britis
ships Of war.