The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-06
Note MADE PUBLIC
ENGLISH and AMERICAN GOVERN
HERTS GITe out DETAILS

! MENTS GIVE OUT DETAILS
| ACTED BY AGREEMENT
Washington Thursday Disclosed Elk
act Terms Of Much Discussed Sots
Contents Are as Was Reported II
Previous Unofficial Publication
Text Given Ont In Full
By agreement between the state
department and the British foreign
Office the text of the note sent by the
United States to Great Britain, In
sisting on an early improvement in
the treatment Of American commerce
by the British fleet, was made public
at Washington Thursday. It follows:
The Protest In Full.
"The Secretary Of State to the
American ambassador at London:
Department Of State,
washington, D. c., Dec. rs, 1914
"The present condition Of Aneri-
can foreign trade resulting from the
frequent seizures and detention OF
American cargoes destined 70 neutral
European ports has become so Sc
rious as to require candid state
ment Of the views of this govern
ment in order that the British gov
ernment may be fully informed as to
the attitude Of the United States to-
ward the policy which has been pur-
sued by the British authorities dur
ing the present var.
"You will, therefore, communicate
the following to his Majesty's princi-
pal secretary Of State for foreign af-
fairs, but in doing so you %yid assure
him that it is done in the most friend
" spirit and in the belief that frank
ness will better serve the continU-
ancs Of cordial relations between the
two countries than silence. which
may be construed into acquiescence
in a course Of conduct which this
government can not consider to be an
infringement upon the rights of
American citizens.
United States Waited Patiently.
"The government Of the United
States has viewed with growing con-
cern the large number OF vessels
sden with American goods destined
to neutral ports in Europe which
have been seized on the high seas,
taken into British ports and detsin-
ed, sometimes for weeks, BY the Brit
ish authorities. During the early
days of the war this government as
sumed that the policy adopted by the
British government was due to the
UNEXPECTED outbreak Of hostllities
and the necessity Of Immediate action
20 prevent contraband from reaching
the enemy. For this reason 1t was
not disposed to judge this policy
harshly or protest it vigorously, al
though it Eas manifestly very inJu-
rfous to American trade with the neu-
tral countries Of Europe. This gov
ernment, relying confidently upon the
high regard which Great Britain has
so often exhibited in the past for the
rights Of other nations, confidently
awaited amendment of g course OF
action which denied to neutral COM
merce the freedom to which it was
entitled by the law of nations.
"This expectation seemed to be
rendered the more assured By the
statement OF the foreign Office early
in November that the British govern
ment were satisfied with guarantees
offered by the Norwegian, Swedish
and Danish governments as to non
expectation of =. contraband goods
when consigned to named persons IN
the territories Of those governments,
and that orders had been given to
the British feet and customs author!-
ties to restrict interference with neu-
trail vessels carrying such cargees so
consigned to verifcation OF snip &
papers and cargoes.
No Change in Policy.
ut is, therefore, a matter Of deep
regret that, though nearly i've
months have passed since the war oe-
gan, the British government have not
materially changed their policy and
do not treat less vigorously ships and
cargoes passing between neutral ports
in the peaceful pursuit CT lawful com
merce. which bellierents should pro-
tect rather than interrupt. The great
er freedom from detention and se!z-
ure, which was confidently expected
to result from consigning shipments
TO definite consignees, rather than 'tc
order is still awaited.
at is needless to point out to his
Majesty's government, usually the
champion of the freedom OF the seas
and the rights Of trade, that peace
not war, is the normal relation be-
tween nations, and that the com
| nerce between countries, which are
not belligerents, should not be inter
fered with by those ct war, unless
I such interference is n.anifestly al
iimperat;ve necessity tc protect thel!
national safety, and then only to the
extent that it Is q necessity. It /:
with no lack of appreciation OF the
momentous nature Of the presen
struggle in which Great Britain l:
tengaged, and with no selfish desire
to gain undue commercial advantage
that this government is reluctantl!
forced to the conclusion that th'
present policy of his Majesty's gov
ernment toward neutral ships ant
cargoes exceeds the manifest neces
sity Of a belligerent and constitute
restrictions upon the rights of Ameri
can citizens on the high seas, which
are not justified by the rules of inter
national law or required under tn
principle of self-preservation.
Present Complaint.
"The government of the Unite'
States does not intend at this tim
to discuss the propriety Of including
certain articles In the lists of abso
lute and conditional contra band