Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-28
To Withhold
British Note
AT REQUEST OF SIR EDWARD
GRAY
WITH NO EXPLANATION
From British Sources Il is Learned
That the Purpose is to Give Time
for Confederation of the American
Noe Of July II.

washington July Zf-Tne request
made by Sir Edward Grey, British
| minister for foreign affairs, that the
state department. withhold from publi-
1 GATOR in tomorrow mornings papers,
as originally planned. the text of the
British note received yesterday in
reply to the American protest against
| the British order-in-council, caused
much speculation today in official cir
cles.@
No explanation for the delay was
same subject was promised from Lon
| don within the week
lansing Would Give No Theory.
Secretary Lansing declined to ad-
vance any theory 70 the supplementing
/ of the first communication. The Amer
lean note, which has been in prepara-
4 tion for some time, will be further
| delayed until the supplementary docu-
ment is in hand.
| 1t was at first supposed by officials
| that statements In the last American
note to Germany, which were Of gen.
| eral application and set out in deter
mined language the purpose OF the
| United States government to maintain
| the freedom of the seas, might have
Influenced the British foreign Office to
deal with the subject in the same note
which defends the order-in- council.
From British sources. however, it
was learned that the main purpose of
/ asking the postponement of publication
was to afford opportunity to the Brit
1 ish government to consider and If
necessary comment upon the communi-
| cation cabled from Washington July II
| in regard to cases before British prize
| courts
About Prize Courts.
| This communication, known as a
caveat, recited that in view of the diff
ferences understood to exist between
| the two governments as to the princi-
i pies of law applicable in prize court
court proceedings in caes involving
American interests. and in order to
avoid any misunderstanding as to the
attitude OF the United States, the Brit
ish government is Informed that the
American government would insist
upon the recognition of the rights Of
American citizens under the principles
of international law as hitherto estab-
| lished, governing neutral trade in time
| of war, without limitation or impair
| ment by order-in-council or other mu-
nicipal legislation by the British gov
ernment, and would not recognize the
validity of prize court proceedings
taken under the rstraintS imposed by
| British municipal law in derogation of
the rights of American citizens under
international law.
One General Agreement.
| The British note delivered yesterday
\ is understood to be framed upon the
theory that the order -in-council does
| not transgress the rights, of neutrals
as laid down in international law, al
| though it is admitted that in some re-
spects the application of the legal prin-
cipleS is now. In view OF the sweep
| ing objection by the United States to
the order-in- council made in the cav
/ eat. the British government feels, 1T is
understood, this phase requires special
| treatment at this time. At first 1t was
| thought a separate note might be sent
| in reply, but the British government is
| understood to have finally decided to
| include this subject in the whole gem
eral argument covering the rights of
neutrals to the freedom of the seas.
Right to Blockade an Enemy.
One feature of the British note is
understood to deal exhaustively with
the right of a country to blockade an
enemy through neutral ports. That the
United States, in case it should be
plunged in war with any European
country outside of the British Isles,
| never could successfully maintain q
blockade so long as the enemy coun-
try could receive unlimited supplies
across the borders of an adjacent coun-
try, is regarded by the British as a
dealing with the effort to cut off sup
plies being received by Germany
through Swedish, Danish and Dutch
ports.
supreme court in the MatamoroS cases
during the Civil war, where a similar
right appears to be denied, is held by
Great Britain not to apply to the
presnt conditions, because at that time,
except at Brownsville. there was prac-
tically no way for supplies landed in
Mexico to reach the confederate stats
overland through Texas because of a
lack of inland transportation facilities
which now exist.
Special international Tribunal.
Lest there should be eventual dis
agreement as to the right Of the Brit
ish government to detain vessels and
cargoes under the order-in-councn and
failing a diplomatic adjustment, it is
pointed out by British officials that
American interests may safely be
trusted to the special international
tribunal provided for in the arbitration
treaty between the United States and
Great Britain which the British hold
was intended to deal with just. such
issues.
REDUCING DEPOSITS
IN NATIONAL BANKS.
SAcrefar1, MeAdoo Has Dirac3ed With.