The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-08-07
BR|TA|N'S REPLY To-
AMERICAN NOTE
ENGIISHMEN DECLARE THAT
THE CONTENTION OF THE v.
S. is UNSUSTAINABLE.
Changed Conditions Of Warfare, the
Note Contends, Requires New
Application of the Principles of
international Law.

Washington.-Great Britain's re-
plies to the latest American represen-
tations against interference with neu-
trail commerce reject entirely the con-
tention that the orders in council are
Illegal and justify the British course
as being wholly within international
law.
''Unsustainable either In point of
law or upon principles of International
equity" is the British reply to the
American protest against the block
ade of neutral ports, with an invita-
tion to submit to international arbi-
tration any cases in which the United
States Is dissatisfied with the action
of British prize courts.
Great Britain's reply, embodied in
two notes, one supplemental, was
made public here and in London SIM
ultaneously, on August 3, by agree
| ment between the two governments.
With the notes was made public also
| the correspondence over the Ameri-
can steamer Neches, seized by the
| British while en- route from Rotter-
dam to the United States with goods
OF German origin. All the correspond
ence aggregates 1000 words.
| Changed conditions of warfare, the
British note contends, require new
application of the principles of inter-
national law. The advent of the SUBJ
marine, the airship and the alleged
atrocities by German troops in Bel
GUM are cited as justification for the
exercise of extreme measures. The
blockade is justified on the contention
that the acknowledgements funda-
mental principle of blockade is that
a belligerent is entitled to cut off ''by
effective means the seaborne com.
merce of the enemy"
The note reiterates that Great Brit
ain will continue to apply the orders
complained of, although not without
every effort to avoid embarrassment
, to neutrals, and observes that the
| American statistics show that any
} loss in trade with Germany and Aus
tria has been more than overbalanced
by the increase of other industrial
i activities due to the war.
In the general reply to the Ameri-
, can representations against the orders
) in council Sir Edward Grey, the for
= eign minister, addressing Ambassador
, Page, begins by expressing the hope
: that he may be able to convince the
administration at Washington that
< the measures we have announced are
: not only reasonable and necessary in
: themselves, but constitute no more
Y than an adaptation of the old prin.
e ciples of blockade to the peculiar cir
}. cumstances with which we are con
n fronted."
:, Il need scarcely dwell" wrote Sill
d Edward, ION the obligations incum
bent upon the allies to take every
step in their power to overcome theil
common enemy in view of the shock
i ing violations of the recognized rules
s and principles of civilized warfare O.
e which he has been guilty during the
n present struggle"
7. Sir Edward then refers to atroci
ties in Belgium, poisoning of wells il
German Southwest Africa, use o
poisonous gases against the allied
troops in Flanders, and finally thu
l sinking of the Lusitania, to shov
| how indispensable it is that we SHOULD
/ leave unused no justifiable method O
ii defending ourselves"