The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-08
BLOCKADE IS ILLEGAL
SAYS AMERICAN NOTE
Secretary Lansing Sent Representations
to British Government Protest
ing Against Practice.

| Washington, ID. g., Nov. S.-The Unit
ed States in its latest note to Great
Britain, made public here yesterday, coy-
ering exhaustive British interference
with American trade since the beginning
of the European war, declares that the
so-called blockade instituted by the al
lies against enemy countries on March
IL, is ineffective, illegal and indefensi-
| ble." Notice is served that the American
government cannot submit to the cur
tailment of its neutral rights" and it
cannot with complacence suffer further
subordination OF. its rights and inter
ests"
Ambassador Page, to whom the note
was sent by special messenger for de-
livery to the London foreign Office, was
instructed by Secretary Lansing ''to inn
press most earnestly" upon the British
government that the United States
must insist that the relations between
il and His Majesty's government be
governed not by policy Of expediency
but by those established rules Of inter.
national conduct to which Great Britain
in the past has, held the United States
to account when the latter nation was
a belligerent engaged in struggle for
national existence"
Declaring the United States "unhesi-
tatingly assuming" the task of cham
pionng the integrity OF neutral rights,
the note proclaims that the American
government viii devote its energies 70
the task, exercising always an impartial
attitude
The note, nearly $4,000 words in
length, was made public by agreement
between the state department and the
British foreign Office IL carries with il
a voluminous appendix, giving the text
Of American naval instructions issued in
1862 and a summary and table showing
hundreds Of vessels detained by British
since the beginning Of the
present war.
The body Of the note i divided into
80 points, dealing with all phases OF the |
question. seizures and deten- |
tions, prior to, a. well a. after the so.
called blockade was instituted, and an
nounces that a separate communication 4
will be sent soon dealing particularly i
with the propriety OF the British govern
ment 70 include in their list Of contra.
band Of war certain articles which have
been 80 included"
Ia conclusion. after an argument on
the law and facts, secretary Lansing
saysi
Il believe il has been conclusively
shown that the methods sought to be
spployed by Great Britain 20 obtain and /.
use evidence Of enemy destination Of
'argocs bound for neutral ports and to
impose o contrahand character upon such
'argccs are without justification; that
he blockade, upon which such methods
ne partly founded. i Ineffective. illegal
ind indeiensibie; that the judicial pro-
'edure offered AZ means II repara-
.ion for ~ International injury i in
iercntly detective for the purpose and
hat IN many cases jurisdiction = a.
erted in violation Of the Law Of nations
The United States therefore. eannot
ubmit to The eurtAilment - its neutral
ights hY these measures. which are "a.
nittediv retaiat0rv, and Therefore illn-
.al in conception ami IN nature. and fn-
ended O. punish the enemies ~ Crest
iritain for alleged lleEaIties On their
art Tie United States might ~ -
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