Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-11

ut Is therefore 4 matter of regret"
says the note, that this hope has not
been realized. but that on the con-
trary interferences with American
ships and cargoes destined in good
faith to neutral ports and lawfully en-
titled to proceed have become increas-
ingly vexatious. causing American
ship-owners ande American merchants
to complain to this government Of the
failure to take steps to prevent and
exercise of belligerent power in con-
travention Of their just rights AS
the measures complained of proceed
directly from orders issued by the
British government. are executed by
British authorities, and arouse a rea-
sonable apprehension that, II not re-
sisted they may be carried to an ex-
tent even more injurious to American
interests this government directs the
attention of His Majesty's government
to the following considerations"
The case OF the United States Is sum-
med up in IS long paragraphs. "A sum-
ming up Of some Of the moro important
follow:
The statistics presented by Great Britain
to prove an increase rather than de.
crease In American trade fail to take
into account the increased price OF
commodities resulting from state OF
war or to make any allowance for the
diminution in the volume Of trade which
the neutral countries in Europe previously
had with the nations at war;
Detentions by Great Britain have not
been uniformly based on proofs obtained
at the time Of seizure, but many ves-
sells have been detained while search was
made for evidence" The question has
been one Of evidence to support the be-
lief of-in many ca1es bare suspicion
of-enemy destination, or occasionally OF
enemy origin of the goods involved"
Answering the assertion Of Great Brit
ain that the position Of the United States
in relation Of search at sea Is inconsistent
with it's practice during the Civil War.
the note says this Is based upon a mis-
conception" A careful search Of the rec
ords shows conclusively that there were
no instances when vessels were brought
into port for search prior to instituting
prize court proceedings" and that cap
lures were not made upon other grounds
than evidence found on the ship under
Investigation. and not upon circumstances
ascertained from external sources" 1t is
copy of the instructions issued to Amer
lean naval officers on August 49, 1862.
In answer to the British contention that
conditions relating to the size and sea-
worthiness OF modern carriers justify
bringing vessels into port, there Is cited
the report Of board of United States
naval experts. Just made. in which 1t Is de.
clared. that 1t is not necessary to remove
"every package Of a ships cargo to es-
tablish the character and nature Of her
trade, that the facilities for boarding and
inspection OF modern ship. are In fact
greater than in former times. and that
to permit ships to be taken into port
"would be direct aid to the belligerents
concerned In that 1t would release a bellig.
erent vessel overhauling the neutral from
Its duty Of search and set It free for fur.
Their belligerent operations"
Attention Is directed to the fact that
Great Britain admits that her exports
to neutral countries havo also materially
Increased since the present war began.
"Thus Great Britain" says the note,
"concededly shsres In creating a condi.
ton which 10 relied upon as a sufficient
sround to Justify the interruption OF
American goods destined to neutral Euro.
pean ports. II British exports to those
ports should be still furthe: increased
It is obvious that under the rule OF
evidence contended for by the British
government. tho presumption Of enemy
destination could be applied to q greater
number Of American cargoes. and Amer
team trade would suffer to the extent
that British trade benefited by tho IN
crease Great Britain cannot expect the
United Sta'es to submit TO such mani
fest injustice or TO permit tho rights OF
Its citizens to be SO seriously impaired. "
Whatever may be tho conJectural con.
illusions drawn from trade statistics
tho Unitcd States ''naintains the right
to sell goods into the general stock N
neutral country. and denounces as
Illegal and unjusti6able any attempt Of
belligerent to interfere with that RICH,
on the ground that II suspects that tn.
previous supply u such goods In thu
neutral country winch the imports renew
or replace has been sold to an enemy
That la a matter with which the neutra
vendor has no concern and which can II
no way affect his rights Of trade, More
, over. oven II goods listed as conditions
contraband are destined TO an enem,
; country through a neutral country. tina
fact Is not In itself sufficient to justif!
their seizure"
In view Of these considerations. tn
: Omitted States announces that It has M
other course but ITO Contest seizures o
, vessels at sea upon conjecsural suspicion
ard the practice Of bringing them int
port for tho purpose, By search or other
, wise. OF obtaining evidarcc," and add
that relying uron the regard OF tn
British government for :ht principles O
justice so frequently ana uniformly mani
tested prior to the present war. this gov
eminent anticipates that the British gov
ernmsnt will instruct their officers to re
fratn from these vnsatons and illega
practices
. Wh!lo tho United States government
D was at first inclined to Wow will
| leniency tho British measuroa which wer