Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-11
American Government Serves
Notice on England That
It "CannOt Submit to the|
Curtailnent of Its Neutral
RICH u.s." and Ca mot
with Complacence Suf-
fer Further Subordin a.
ton of It's Rights and
INTERESTS

Washington, Nov THE United States
N its latest note to Great Britain. made
public here to-day. covering exhaustively
British interference vita American trade
since the beginning OF the European war;
declares that the so-caled blockade in
stituted by the allies against enemy coun-
tries on March II, is ineffective. illegal
and indefensibe" Notice is served that
the American government cannot SUBJ
nit to the curtailment of it's neutral
rights" and it cannot with complacence
suffer further subordination Of its rights
and interests"
Ambassador Page to whom the note
was sent by special messenger for de-
livery to the London foreign office, was
instructed by Secretary Lansing ito i'm
press most earnestly" upon the British
government that the United States must
Insist that the relations between it and
His Maiesty's government be governed,
not by a policy Of expediency but by
those established rules of International
conduct to which Great Britain in the
past has held the Unit I'd States to &C
count when the latter nation was a
belligerent engaged in a struggle for ma
tional existence"
Declaring the United States 'unhesi-
tatngly assumes the task Of cham
pioning the integrity Of neutral rights.
The note proclaims that the American
government will devote it's energies to
the task, exercising always an impartial
attitude
The note. nearly 5000 words in length.
was made public by agreement between
the state department and the British
a
volumnous appendix. giving the text Of
1862 and a summary and table showing
hundreds of vessels detained by British
authorities since the beginning of the
present war.
The body of the note is divided into
s. points. dealing with all phases of the
contraband question, seizures and deten-
tons, prior to. as we'll as after the
so-called blockade was instituted and
announces that a separate communica-
ton will be sent soon dealing particu-
larly with the "proprety and right Of
the British government to include in
their list of contraband of war certain
articles which have been so included. q"
In conclusion. after an argument on
the law and facts, Secretary Lansing
says:
~ believe it has been conclusively
shown that the methods sought to be
employed by Great Britain to obtain
and use evidence of enemy destination
of cargoes bound for neutral ports and
to impose contraband character upon
such cargoes are without justification;
that the blockade, upon which such
methods are partly founded, is ineffec-
tive. illegal and indefensible; that the
judicial procedure offered as means
of reparation for an international injury
Is inherently defective for the purpose
and that in many cases Jurisdiction is
asserted in violation of the law Of ma
tons The United States, therefore. can
not submit to the curtailment OF IT'S
neutral rights by these measures which
are admittedly retaliatory, and therefore
Illegal. in conception and in nature. and
tnte3de1 TO punish the enemies Of Great
Ryi.a!n Tor alleged lllegalit!es OH their
pat The United States might not be
IN position to object to them " it,
interests and thA interests of all neutrals
were unaffected by them, but being
infected. I. cannot with coinp,acence
suffe- further subordinat.on Of its rights
and Interests to the plea tina. thu ax-
ceptional geographic position % the enc
m'es OF Grear Britain require or Justify
oppressive and Illegal practices.
TIE government OF the ". S. desires,
.he'cIore, II impress most earnestly upon
HIS Majestys government that ii must
insist that the relations between 1t and
Eis MaieSty's government he governed
not by policy of expedency. but by those
established rules Of international conduct
upon which Great Britain IN the past hes
held tho United States to account when
the latter nation was belligerent engaged
In a struggle for national existence. II Il
nj the Highest Importance to neutrals no,
only of tbs present day but of the future
that tho principles Of International rish'
be maintained unimpa,rec
This task OF champonining the integ
rhy Of rcutrai rights. which have received
the sanction Of the civilized world agains
the lawless conduct of bcll!ge.ents arts
Ing on. OF the bitterness Of the great con
fiict which Is now wnsting tho countries
OF Europa. the United States rnhcsItat
iingly assumes. and to the accomplis hmen
Of that task it will devote its energies. ex
ercsng always that impo rtiality whicl
from the ldthreak If the war II has sough
nations"
The notc is dated October a. md nc
know.edaes tho notes % the BIRTHS,
government dated January =, Februar,
20. Juno %. July 81. July 81 Uwo)
August IS, and note workable Of tn
British embassy OF August 6, ali o
which relate - restrictions upon Am
.ricmn commerce, The United State
rags mt the outset that it has delayc,
answering these notes in the hope tina
tho announced purpose Of Grent Brit
taii TO exercise thor beiliseren
,ight with every possible consdera
ton for tho interests Of ncutrals." an
of causing tho least possible ambun
of Inconvenience to persons engage
in legitimate trade would in practic
not unjustlflnbly infringe upon IT,
neutral rights Of American citizens.