The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-21
STRONG NOTE
TO GREAT BRITAIN
u. s. DEFIES ENGLAND AND AS
SERTS FREEDOM OF THE
SEA.
Neutral Ports
H. Are Blockaded
Ambassador SPrins-Riee Asks
\ Moderation of His Government IN
Favor of American Trade.

: Favor of American Trade.
Washington, July H. The State
Department to-day gave out sum
mary Of a note it has sent to Great
Britain, informing that Government
that It will uphold the rights of
!. American trade.
4 The note is firm, fat denial of
Great Britain's assumed right to in
terfere with American commerce,
which includes. cotton, to an extent
not coahtenahced by the recog-.
fnized rules Of international law. It
is q vigorous statement that this
Government can not permit its COM
Amerce to be treated according to the
autoctstic regulations Of the British
order in council and various munich
pal decrees. Later the State De-
partnaeat will send a formal protest
against the seizure of more than 100
;cargoes Of American goods. 81
The effect of the note is to shift
the shadow Of q real international
crisis from the affairs Of the United
States and Germany to the issues be-
tween tile United States and Great
Britain. It is evident that Germany
has won the first round Of her de-.
mand that, as 'the' freedom of the
seas underlies the questions at issue,
between the United States and Ger
many, this Government must take up
that subject with Great Britain.
Flrthsrniore it is in direct medi-
alton between Germany and Great
Britain. And, finally, it demon
sxates the realization by the the
Administration a that it can no longer
maintain an attitude of aggressive
diplomacy against Germany. and cons
tinue to let the case against Great
Britain slumber. v
Insist, On Rights Of Americans.
The summary of the note is as
follows.
.In view of differences which are
understood to exist between the two
GeYerani6 asato the*prinefpie Of
law applicable IN prize court pro-
essdmgsiin cases involving American
interests, and IN order to avoid any
misunderstanding as to the attitude
of the United States in regard to
such proceedings the Government Of
the United Statss Informs the British
Government that, in SO far as the in
terests Of American -eitizens are con-
cerned, it Will insist upon their rights
under the principles and rules Of in
terantionar law as hitherto establish
ed, governing neutral trade in time
of war, without limitation or impair
me1t byfordsrs in council or other
municipal legislation by the British
Government, and viii not recognize
the validity of prize court passages
taken under restraints imposed by
British municipal law in derogation
Of the rights Of American citizens
under international law"
The note means:
First, that Lord Crewe stated an
indefensible position when he told
the United States that the British
Government would not consider
cases of seizures and detentions in
prize courts as diplomatic ques-
lions"
No Right to Blockade Neutral Ports.
- Second, that the United States as
serts that Great Britain had no in
ternational right ''to interfere with
the approach Of American merchant
men to neutral ports situated upon
the line of coast affected by the or
der in council, when such ships do
not carry contraband or goods des-
tined to or proceeding from ports
within the belligerent territory"
Third, that the manner of seizure
and detention is laid down by inter-
national law, and that law can no
more be changed by the exigencies
Of Great Britain's blockade than by
the present impossibility of Germany
using any other craft than a subma-
rine to exercise the right of visit and
search.
Fourth, the United States does not
challenge the effectiveness of the
British blockade of actual ports Of
Germany, but it does challenge the
<extension of that blockade to cover
the ports of Denmark, Sweden, Hol-
land and Norway.
Fifth, that interference with Am
erican and neutral vessels en- route
from American ports to other neu-
Continued on Page Eight) :,