New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
VIEWS PLAINLY STATED
IN AMERICAN PROTEST
Full Text of Note in Which United States Govern
ment Complains to Great Britain of Onwarran'ed
Interference with Rights of Citizens.

tory, the British authorizes fhAue t''
seizures and detentions without so Tar
as we are informed, being IN posses
sion Of facts which warranted iea
sonable belief that the shipments mao
in reality a belligerent destination, as
that term is used IN international law:
Mere suspicion is not evidence ana
doubts should be resolved in favor or
neutral commerce, not against II ne
effect upon trade in these articles pc
tween neutral nations resulting from
interrupted voyages and detained car
goes is not entirely cured by rem
bursement of the owners for the dam
ages which they have suffered siter
investigation has failed TO estapllsn
an enemy destination. The INJURY ~
tc American commerce with neutrhl
countries as a whole through the hh1,
ard Of the enterprise and the repeated
diversion Of goods from establlsheu
markets. mi
at also appears that cargoes OF TINS
character have been seized by the Brlt-
ish authorities because Of "A bellef
that. though not originally so INTENDED
by the shippers, they will ultimately
reach the territory of the enemies OF
Great Britain. Yet this belief is fire.
cuentlv reduced 10 mere fear III
view of the embargoes which have peeh
decreed by the neutral countries 70
which they are destined on the hIu-
eles composing the cargoes.
THAT a consignment TO order OF
articles listed as conditional contra
band and shipped to neutral poft
raises legal presumption OF enemy
destination appears to be directly con
trary to the doctrines previously held
= I'D GfnfDd
Lord Salisbury during the South Att
can War: ,.u
"Foodstuffs, though having a hostile
destination. can be considered rs con-
traband of war only if they are for the
enemy forces. IL is not sufficient that
they are capable of being so used: II
must be shown that this was in TACT
their destination at the time OF their
seizure
with this statement as to condi-
tional contraband the views of this
government are in entire accord, and
upon this historic doctrine, consistently
maintained by Great Britain when a
belligerent as well as neutral, Amer
lean shippers were entitled to rely.
To Search at Sea Only.
"The government of the United
States readily admits the full right OF
q bellipcrent TO visit and search on the
high seas the vessels of American cit
liens or other neutral vessels carrying
American goods and 10 detain them
when there is sufficient evidence TO
Justify a belief that contraband articles
are i'm their cargoes, but his majesty's
government, Judging by their own eX-
perience in the past, must realize that
this government cannot without pro-
test hermit American ships or Amer
lean cargoes to be taken INTO brl'ish
norts End there detained for the pur-
nose Of searching generally for evil
dence Of contraband, or upon presump--
tions created by special municipal
enactments which are clearly at varl--
ance with international law and
practice.
This government believes, and ear
nestly hopes his majesty's government
will come TO the same bellef, that
course of conduct more in conformity
with the rules Of international usage,
which Great Britain has strongly sane
toned for many years, viii IN the end
better serve the interests OF belliger-
cnts as well as those of neutrals.
"Not only is the situation critical
one 10 the commercial interests OF the
United States. but many OF the great
industries of this country are suffering
because their products are denied long
established markets in European coun-
tries, which, though neutral, are con-
tiguous 10 the nations at war. Pro-
ducers and exporters, steamship and
insurance companies are pressing, and
not without reason, for relief from the
menace TO transatlantic trade, which
is gradually but surely destroying
their business and threatening them
with financial disaster.
"The government Of the United
States, still relying upon the. deep
sense of Justice of the British nation,
which has been so often manifested in
the intercourse between the two coun-
tries during so many years of uninter-
rupted friendship, expresses confidently
tie hope that his majesty's government
will realize the obstacles and difficult
ties which their present policy has
placed in the way of commerce between
the United States and the neutral coun-
tries of Europe, and will instruct their
officials TO refrain from all unnecessary
interference with the freedom of trade
between nations which are sufferers,
though not participants, IN the present
conflict; and will, in their treatment of
neutral ships and car soes, conform
more closely to those rules governing
the maritime relations between bel
ligerents and neutrals which have re-
ceived the sanction of the civilized
world. and which Great Britain has IN
other wars % strongly and successfully
advocated.
I'm conclusion il should be i'm
pressed upon his majesty's government
that the present condition of American
trade with the neutral European coun-
tries is such that, if it does not i'm
prove it may arouse a feeling contrary
to that which has so long existed be-
tween the American and British peo-
pies. Already il is becoming more and
more the subject of public criticism
and complaint There is an increasing
belief, doubtless not entirely unjus j.
fed, that the present British policy
toward American trade is responsible
for the depression in certain industries
which depend upon European markets.
The attention Of the British govern
ment is called TO this pc sible result of
their present policy 10 show how wide
spread the effect is upon the industrial
life of the United States and TO en-
phasize the importance of removing the
cause of complaint"
.TIERKNECHT TIRCES