New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-08
Complacence at an End.

Notice &c served that the American
,-o,'err mont cannot submit 10 the cur
ta5lmont Of its neutral rights ana II
cannot "with complacence suffer further
subordination of its rights and inter-
ests." , o..
Ambassador P-ge was instructed 70
;,,nress most earnestly" on the British
government that the United states
amust insist that the relations between
IL and his majesty's government DC
governed net by policy OF eNpedienoy'
Knit Inv those established rules Of inter
rotional conduct TO which Great Britain
IN tho mast has held the United States
n account when the latter nation was
3 bellicerent engaged in struggle 10
national existence. =;
THE note. nearly $4,000 words In
length. carries with il voluminous ap-
pendix. giving the text OF amer 'ca
naval instructions issued IN ioo@ "nu
a summary and table showing huhGreuS
Of vessels detained by British authorl.
ties since the beginning OF the present
war. ,,..,s.a ,,to
.birtv-fve points. dealing witt al
nbascs of the contraband question
seizures and detentions. prior 20, IS
well as after the so-called blocKaoe
was instituted and announces thaI
separate communication Will be sent
soon dealing particularly with the pro-
nriotv and right of the British govern
ment to include in their list OF contra
hand of war certain articles which nave
been so included
In conclusion. after an argument on
the law and facts, Secretary Lansing
saws:
~ believe it has been conclusivei.
shown that the methods sought 70 l.
emploved by Great Britain TO Obtain
and use evidence Of enemy destination
Of cArgoes bound for neutral ports ana
10 impose contraband character upon
such cargoes are without Justification;
that the blockade, upon which such
methods are partly founded, is lneHec-
tive. illegal and indefenslble; thst ."e
judicial procedure offered as a means
of reparation for an international IN
Jury is inherently defective Tor the
purpose: and that in many cases Ju. s.
diction is asserted in ylola ION OF the
law Of nations.
THE United States, therefore cannot
submit to the curtailment OF ITS neutral
RIGHTS by these measures, which are
admittedly retaliatory, and, therefor,
ILLEGAL in conception and in nature, and
intended to punish the enemies Oh GREAT
britain for alleged illegalities on their
mart. The United States might not e
in a position to object to them II Its
interests and the interests OF all ECU
trails were unaffected by them, but,
being affected. il cannot with com
nlacence suffer furt-er subordindtion
Of its rights and interests > the plea
that the exceptional geographic poci-
ton Of the enemies Of Great Britain
REQUIRE or Justify oppressive and illeg-l
practices.
Insists on Law. Not Expediency.
"Tbe government Of the United States
desires. therefore, TO impress most
earnestly upon his majesty's govern
ment that il must insist that the rela-
tions between il and his majesty's gov
eminent be governed not by policy OF
exnediencv. but by those established
rules of international conduct upon
which Great Britain in the past mas
held the United States to account when
the latter nation was belllgerent en-
Gagged in struggle Tor national exist
Snce. II is Of the highest importance
10 neutrals, not only of the present
dav but Of the future, that the prin-
ciples of international right be main
tanned unimpaired.
"This task of championing the integ-
r;tv of neutral rights, which have re-
ceived the sanction of the civilized
world against the lawless conduct OF