The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-08-05
BRITISH ANSWER
is MADE PUBLIC
Sir Edward Grey Defends Atti-
rude Toward Commerce.
IS FILLING TO ARBITRATE

Changed Conditions of Warfare Re.
quire New Application of the Prin-
cipIes of International Law, Accord
ing to the British Foreign Minister.
Washington, Aug 4.-Great Britain's
replies to the latest American repre-
sensations against interference with
neutral commerce reject entirely the
contention that the orders in council
are illegal and justify the British
course as being wholly within inter
national law.
"Unsustainable either in point of
law or upon principles of internation-
al equity is the British reply to the
American protest against the block
ade of neutral ports, with an invita-
ton to submit to international arbi-
tration any cases in which the United
States is dissatisfied with the action
Of the British prize courts.
Great Britain's reply, embodied in
two notes, one supplemental, was
made public here and in London
simultaneously by agreement between
the two governments. With the notes
was made public also the correspond
ence over the American steamer
Neches, seized by the British while
en- route from Rotterdam to the Unit
ed States with goods of German or
igin.
Changed conditions of warfare, the
British note contends, require a new
application of the principles of inter-
national law. The advent of the sub
marine, the airship and the alleged
atrocities by German troops in Bel
GUM are cited as justification for the
exercise of extreme measures.
The blockade is justified on the
contention that the universally recog-
nized fundamental principle of
blockade is that a belligerent is en-
titled to cut off "by effective means
the seaborne commerce of his en-
envy"
Will Continue Naval Policy.
The note reiterates that Great
Britain will continue to apply the or
ders complained of, although not
without every effort to avoid embar-
rassment to neutrals, and observes
that the American statistics show
that any loss in trade with Germany
and Austria has been more than over
balanced by the increase of other in
dustrial activities due to the war
In the general reply to the Amer
lean representations against the or
ders in council Sir Edward Grey, the
foreign minister, addressing Ambas-
sador Page, begins by expressing the
hope that he may be able to convince
the administration in Washington
that the measures we have an
noUnced are not only reasonable and
necessary, in themselves, but consti-
tute no more than an adaptation of
the old principles of blockade to the
peculiar circumstances with which
we are confronted"
II need scarcely dwell,' wrote Sir
Edward, ION the obligations incumb-
ent upon the allies to take every step
in their power to overcome their com.
mon enemy in view of the shocking
violation of the recognized rules and
principles of civilized warfare of
which he has been guilty during the
present struggle.'"
Sir Edward then refers to atrocities
in Belgium, poisoning of wells in Ger
man Southwest Africa, use of poison
Gus gases against the allied troops in
Flanders and finally the sinking of
the Lusitania, to show chow indispen-
able it is that we should leave unused
no justifiable method of defending
ourselves'