The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-10
DOES NOT ADMIT BLOCKADE.
NOTE OF UNITED STATES TO AL
LIES Is GIVEN OUT.
Trade With Ncutrals Should Not be
lntcrfercd with i'm Undue Manner
Says NOtc--Unitcd States Comedies
Right to Search Neutral Craft, but
Does not Want Blockade Operated
With Disregard to National Law.

States government today made public
It's note to Great Britain announcing
that it could not perrnit' either the
right of the allies or their claims for
justification in placing an embargo
on all commercial intercourse be-
tween Germany and neutral countries.
L admit it," says the commune
cation, would be to assume an atti-
tude of unneutrality towards the
present enemies of Great Britain
which obviously would be %inconsist-
ent with the solemn obligation of this
government in the present circum-
stances and for Great Britain to make
such a claim would be for her to
abandon and set at naught the prin-
ciples for which she constantly and
earnestly has contended in other
times Inc circumstances"
The note reviews at length the
legal phases Of a blockade of bellig-
erent territory and virtual blockade
of neutral coasts.
In conclusion the United States
states it's expectation that Great Brit
ain, after having considered the pos
sibilities of serious interruption Of
American trade" under the order in
council twill take the steps necessary
to avoid them, and in the event that
they should %unhappily occur would
be prepared to make full reparation
for every act, which under the rules
of international law constitutes a
violation Of neutral rights"
The American communication in
terprets the circumstances under
which Great Britain's claims to be
Justified in adopting retaliatory meth
DDS towards her enemies as merely
a reason for ertain extraordinary ac-
tivities' by her naval forces land not
an excuse for or q prelude to any un-
lawful action"
IF h course Of the present
enemies of Great Britain" the note
adds, should prove in fact to be
tainted by illegality and disregard
or the principles of wal sanctioned by
enlightened nations, it can not be
supposed and this government does
not for a moment p that his
majesty's government would wish the
same faint to attach to their W ac-
tons"
Ambassador Sharp at Paris was in
structed to present q copy of the
American note to the French foreign
Office with the statement that al
though the French admiralty decree
had not been received officially in
Washington. ii was understood to be
Identical with the British order in
council and the American government
there made similar reply.
The text of the note to Great Brit
ain follows:
The secretary of State to the
American ambassador at London:
Washington, March 80, 1915.
You are instructed to deliver the
following to his majesty's government
in reply to your Nos. 1875 and 1898
of March:
Inc government Of the United
States has given careful consideration
to the subjects treated in the British
notes Of March II and March Is and
to the British order in council of the
latter late.
"These communications contain
matters of grave Importance to neu-
trai nations. They appears to menace
their rights of trade and intercourse
not only with belligerents but also
with one another. They call for
frank comment in order that mis-
understandings may be avoided. The
government of the United States
deems 1t its duty. therefore, speaking
IN the sincerest spirit Of friendship,
TO make it's own view and position
with regard to them unmistakably
clear.
The order in council Of the 18th
Oh March would constitute, were it's
provisions to be actually carried into
ehect, as they stand, a practical as
sertion of unlimited billigerent rights
over neutral commerce within the
whole European area, and an almost
unqualified denial of the sovereign
rights OF the nations now at peace.
Ihls government takes it for
granted that there can be no question
What their rights are. A nations
sovereignty over its own ships and
citizens under its own flag ON the
iliSI seas in time of peace is of course
unlimited; and h a sovereignty suf-
IcrS no diminution i'm time of war.