Goldsboro weekly argus., 1915-08-05
SECRETARY LANSING HAS
QUADRUPLE OF NOTES
Three are From the British
and One is From
Berlin
DEFENDS EFFORTS
OF THE ALLIES
German Note Makes No Substantial
Change i'm the Original German
COntentiOn-Answer to
British Notes Soon.

bflClSu NOtCS SOOus
Washington, Aug. 2.-Three notes
from the British government and one
from Berlin, all dealing with the COM
merciaI rights of neutral nations in
war time were before Secretary Ian
sing tonight Two notes from Great
Britain supplementing the one receiv-
ed last week and the German note
received today. The British commun-
ications probably will be given out
and the German note for the follow
ing day.
The first British note defends the
allies efforts to suppess trade be-
tween their enemies and neutral
countries, even by the stoppage of
abnormal commerce through the neu-
trail countries adjacent to the Teu-
tonic allies. Precedents in Internal
iona1 law, established by the United
States government itself during the
Civil war in order to cut off supplies
from the Confederate states, are re-
vfved to support this assertion. of
right
The note was intended to meet the
objection of the United States that
previous British notes had dealt only
with special cases of seizures and de-
tentions of ships and cargoes under
conditions that seemed to Justify the
British action, failing to answer the
American contentious that the who'a
commerce was in violation of inter-
national law. After it had been dis
patched new conditions arose that de-
termined the British government to
amplify it's argument.
The second note of the series deals
with this issue and it is understood
| that it sets up the contention that an
actual blockade of the North sea ports
exists and that regardless of the Brit
ish orders in council there is an in
herent right in the blockading powers
under international law to suppress
| traffic of this kind.
The last note is in reply to the
American caveat of July II, saying
the United States would be governed
only by the principles of internatien-
al law in dealing with cases of deten-
ton of American ships and goods,
and would not recognize the orders in
/ council The British foreign Office
holds that the orders in council COM
ply with the spirit of international
law, though it is admitted that new
application of these principles to suit
the new conditions developed in the
war has been made.
British prize court proceedings
wherein the magistrates have assum-
ed that the orders in council were in
I conformity with International law
| provoked the American communica
ton. The British contend that the
United States government cannot as
sumo that its merchants have suffer
) ed permanent injury, since there is
, always in reserve the right of dip1o-
/, matte review of prize court decisions
/ and even for arbitration, under the
special arbitration treaty between The
United States and Great Britain.
The German note, continuing ths
discussion over the sinking of the
American ship William P Frye by
German commerce raider, deals will
the American contention that no
; only International law, but also tn
special provisions of the treaty O
! 1928 between the United States an,
: Prussia had been violated. The not
. makes no substantial change, it i
t understood, in the original German
i contention that while the treaty 0
1928 does rot confer special priv
1eges and exemptions upon American
shipping, these can all be met and tn
fright reserved to sink merchant ship
upon the undertaking to compensat
the owners thereafter. The Germa
formal declaration of a war zone
held to Justify special measures t
is keep supplies from her enemies.
Iel An answer to the British note
,e soon will be forthcoming. Prediction
l. were lacking, however, of the cours
to be taken in regard to the Germa
!. note.
A big feature production is offere