The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-04
Protest In Neches Case.

FFOtcSt HI NS5Ctkcc SfSSg.
United States protests to Great Bril-
tain against detention and unloading
1 of American steamship Neches, from
| Rotterdam to United States. carry
| ing goods originating in territory held
| by Germany and consigned to Amer
/ leans. This Is the first specific case
of the kind arising under British
, orders affecting American interests.
and L. made occasion for reassertion
of American position in denial OF
British rights to interfere with ship
ments from neutral countries to the
United States.
[ The Secretary of State to Ambassa-
dor w. III. Page, Department of State:
Ambassador is informed that 1t has
| been brought to the attention of the
department that the S. s. Neches. of
American register. sailing from Rot
terdam for the United States, carry
| ing a general cargo. after being de-
tained at the Downs was brought to
London. where 1t was required by the
British authorities to discharge cargo,
| the property of American citizens.
| II appears that the ground advanced
| to sustain this action Is that the goods
| originated in part, at least. In Belgium.
| and fall. therefore. withia the pro-
| visions of paragraph four of the order
| in council of March IL. which stipu-
| lates that every merchant vessel SAIL
| ing from q port other than a German
! port-carrying goods of enemy origin.
may be required to discharge such
goods in q British or allied port
| Ambassador Page LIS instructed In
this case to reiterate the position of
| the government of the United States
as set forth In the departments in
structions of March 30. 1918, with re-
| spect to the order In council mention
ed, the international invalidity OF
| which the government of the United
States regards as plainly illustrated by
| the present instance OF the seizure of
American owned goods passing from
| the neutral port of Rotterdam TO a
| neutral port of the United States
merely because the goods came orig
| inally from territory in the posses
sion of an enemy of Great Britain.
Cannot Admit Legality.
United States caveat filed with
Great Britain serving notice that
American rights will be construed I'M
der accepted principles of the inter
| national law, and that prize court pro-
ceedings based on British municipal
Legislation not In conformity with prin-
| ciples of international law will not be
| recognized as valid by the United
States.
The Secretary of State to Ambassa-
dor w. II. Page:
Telegram, paraphrase.)
| Department of State,
/ Washington, July IA, 1918.
In view of differences which are
understood to exist between the two
| governments as to the principles OF
| law applicable in prize COURT pro-
! Airw fy va involving &TnAriN2
| interests, and in order to avoid any
| misunderstanding as to the attitude
| Of the United States in regard to
such proceedings. you are instructed to
| inform the British government that
/ in so far as the interests of American
citizens are concerned the Government
of the United States will insist upon
| their rights under the principles and
rules of international law as hitherto
established, governing neutral trade
In time OF war. without limitation or
| impairment by orders In council. or
other municipal legislation by the
| British government and will not rec
| ognize the validity OF prize court pro-
ceedings taken under restraints i'm
| posed by British municipal law In
| asrogaeaem. Of ths Fights OF American
citizens under international law.
Mr.. Page is also instructed to in
/ EOE III lIiS i0ICAkU uiikNS lAfdt the kGEAAlky
\ of this seizure cannot be admitted, and
| that in the view of the government Of
| the United States 1t violates the right
of the citizens OF one neutral to trade
with those of another, as well as with
| those of belligerents except in con-
| traband, or in violation of q legal
| blockade of an enemy seaport; and
| that the rights OF American owners
of goods to bring them out OF Hol-
land, In due course. in neutral ships
must be insisted upon by the United
| States. even though such goods may
! have come originally from the terri
tories OF enemies OF Great Britain. He
Is directed further to insist upon the
desire OF this government that goods
taken from the Neches which are the
property OF American citizens. should
be expedittously released to be for
warded to their destinations, and to
| request that he be advised OF the Brit
ish governments intended course in
| this matter at the earliest moment
bconvenient TO that government.
Great Britain's Reply.
(Number 3.)
Great Britain's reply TO United
States protest in Neches case
tTelegram.)
American Embassy, London, July 81.
| 1915.
Your 1852, 18th.
Sir Edward Grey has today sent me
the following note:
The note which Your Excellency
addressed to me on the 18th instant
regarding the detention Of the cargo of
the steamship Neches. need hardly
say. received the careful. attention OF
his matesty's government.
The note which I had the honor to
send to Your Excellency on the 23d
instant has already explained the view
OF His Majesty.s government on the
legal aapect OF the question, though Il
was prepared before Your Excellency's
communication OF the 18th had been
received. and pending consideration BY
the government OF the United States OF
the views and arguments set forth In
the British note OF the 23d. 1t 10 un-
necessary for me to say more on the
question OF right or of law.
There Is. however. one general OBJ
servation that seems relevant to the
note from Your Excellency respecting
the cargo OF the Neches.
Refers to German Practice.
"It is the practice OF the German
government In the waters through
which the Neches was passing to sink
neutral as well as British merchant
vessels, irrespective of the destinatio n
bf the vessel or origin OK the cargo.
49,