Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-16
Says Friendly Public Sentiment
Might Change if Seizures
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[By Latest MALL


WASHINGTON, d. C.-Because OF
the misunderstanding In the United
States and abroad of the position TAX
en- in the note on sea seizures sent to
Great Britain, President Wilson has
revealed it's full text. II was also
given out in London
Text Of the Note.
The full text of the note, which Is
dated at the State Department Dec.
26, follows:
"The present condition of American
foreign trade resulting from the fire.
quent seizures and detentions of Am
erican cargoes destined to neutral Eu-
ropean ports has become % serious
40 to require q candid statement OF
the views Of this Government in or
der that the British Government may
be fully informed 40 to the attitude Of
the United States toward the policy
which has been pursued by the Brit
ish authorities during the present war.
you will, therefore, communicate
the following to His Majesty's princi-
pal Secretary OF State fer Foreign At
fairs, but in doing so you will assure
him that IL Is done in the most friend
iy spirit and In the belief that frank
ness will better serve the continuance
of cordial relations between the two
countries than silence, which may be
misconstrued into acquiescence In a
course Of conduct which this Govern
ment cannot but consider to be an In
frinqement upon the rights Of Ameri.
can citizens.
No Harsh Judgment Taken.
"The Government of the United
States has viewed witt growing con-
Germ the large number Of vessels laden
with American goods destined to neu-l
trail ports in Europe which have been
seized on the high eeas, taken into
British ports and detained sometimes
for weeks by the British authorities,
During the early days of the war this
Government assumed that the policy
adopted by the British Government
was due to the unexpected outbreak of
hostilities and the necessity of imme-
date action to prevent contraband
from reaching the enemy. For this
reason it was not disposed to judge
this policy harshly or protest 1t Wig
orously, although 1t was manifestly.
very injurious to American trade with
the neutral countries OF Europe.
"ThIs Government, relying conf
IDENTIFY upon the high regard which,
Great Britain has 90 often exhibited
In the past for the rights Of other ma
tons, confidently awaited amendmsntl
Of q course Of action which denied tol
neutral commerce the freedom tol
which II was entitled by the Law Of
nations.
This expectation seemed to bel
rendered the more assured by the
statement of the Foreign Office early
in November that the British Govern
ment was 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 thel
British fleet and customs authorities
to restrict interference with neutral
vessels carrying such cargoes so con-
signed to verification Of ships papers
and cargoes.
Five Months and No Change.
1T is, therefore, matter of deep
regret that, though nearly five months
have passed since the war began, the
British Government have not material
ly changed their policy and do not
treat less vigorously ships and cargoesi
passing between neutral ports In thel
peaceful pursuit Of lawful commerce.
which belligerents should protect rath-
er than interrupt. The greater freedomj
from detention and seizure which was
confidently expected to result from
rather than TO order is
still awaited.
1T is needless to point out to His
Majesty's Government, casually thel
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 commerce.
between countries which are not bel
ligerent should not be interefered with
by those at war, unless such interior
ence is manifestly an imperative me-
cessity. and then only to the extent |
that 1t is a necessity.
at is with no lack Of appreciation
Of the momentous nature of the pre-
sent struggle in which Great Britain
Is engaged and with no selfish desirei
to gain undue commercial advantageI
that this Government IL reluctantly
forced to the conclusion that the pre-
sent policy Of His Msjesty's Govern-l
nent toward neutral ships and carr
goes exceeds the manifest necessity
Of belligerent, and constitutes rel
strictions upon the rights Of Ameri-i
can citizens on the high seas which
are not Justified by fhe rules Of In
law or required under the
principle Of self-preservation.
by British lndeeisIon.
"The Government of the Unitedi
States does not intend at this time toi
discuss the propriety nf including GER
tain articles in the lists of absolute
and conditional contraband which
have been proclaimed by His Males
ty. Open to objection as some of
these seem to this Government. the
chief ground of present complaint is!