Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-03
LONDON AND BERLIN
SEND NOTES TO j. S.
All Deal With Questions Con-
cerning Commercial Rights
of Neutrals.
MAY BE GIVEN OUT TO-DAY
Communications Intended to An
swer American Protests of
Specific Acts.
MAY BE GIVEN OUT TO-DAY

WASHINGTON. August 2-Three
notes from the British government and
one from Berlin. all dealing with the
commercial rights Of neutral nations
in var time. were before Secretary
Lansing tonight. Two notes from
Great Britain. supplcmenting the one
received last week. and the German
note were received to-day. The Brit
ish communications probably will be
given out for publication on Wcdnes-
day morning and tho German note for
the following day.
The first British note defends ;he
allies efforts to suppress trade between
their enemies and neutral countries
even by the stoppage Of abnormal COM
mercc through the neutral countries
adjacent 10 the Teutonic allies. Pre-
cedcnts in international law established
by the United States government itself
during the Civil War in order to cut
off supplies from the Confederate States
are revived to support this assertion OF
right.
The note was intended to meet the
objection of the United States that
previous British notes had dealt only
with special cases of seizures and de-
tentions Of shipments and cargoes un-
der conditions that seemed 10 Justify
the British action. failing to answer
the American contentious that ;he
whole process OF Interference with neu-
trail commerce was in violation of in
ternational law. After i, had been
dispatched new conditions arose that
determined the British government 10
annlify its argument.
PROTEST. AGAINST SEIZURE
OF AMERICAN SHIP NECIEs
Ore of these was protest by the
state Department against the seizure
OF the American ship Ncches, bound
from Rotterdam TO New York With a
cargo OF Belgian and German goods
The Nechcs case made necessary de-
fense of the allies right to cut off Ger
nany's export trade 10 neutral coun-
tries and the financial benefit 10 be de-
rived from that business.
The second note of the series deals
with this issue. and II is understood
that II sets up the contention that an
actual blockade OF the North Sea ports
exists. and that, regardless of the Brit
ish orders in council. there is an in
herent right in the blockading powers.
under international law to suppress
tra!hc of this kind.
The last note is in reply 10 the
American cavcat of July Il. saving the
United States would he governed only
by the principles OF international law
IN dealing with cases of dctcntions Of
American ships and goods. and would
not recognize the orders in council.
The British Foreign Onicc holds that
the orders in council comply with the
spirit OF international law, though 1t
is admitted that a new application Of
these principles TO suit the new cond-
lions developed in the war has been
made
British prize cour; proceedings
wherein the. magistrates have assumed
that the orders In council were in con
formity with international Law pro-
vokcd the American communication
The British contend that the United
States government cannot assume thati
It's merchants have suffered permanent
injury, since there is always in reserve
the right OF Diplomatic review of prize
court decisions and even of arhitra-
tion under the special arbitration
treaty between the United States and
Great Britain.
GERMAN NOTE CONTINUES
DISCUSSION OVER FRYE
The German note. continuing the dis
cussion over the sinking of the Ameri-
can ship William L. Frye by Ger
man commerce raider. deals with the
American contentious that not only in
tcrnational Law, but also the special
provisions Of the treaty of 1925 be-
tween the United States and Prussia,
had been violated. The note makes no
substantial change. ii is understood, in
the original German contention that
while the treaty of 1928 does confer
special privileges and exemptions upon
American shipping. they can all be met
and the right reserved to sink NOR
chant ships upon the undertaking to-
compensate the owners thereafter The
German formal declaration of a war
Continued on Second Page)