The Washington herald., 1915-10-12
Now Comes the British Controversy.

That our controversy with Great Britain
over the freedom of the seas to neutral COM
mcrce will approach stage threatening the
friendly relations existing between the two coun-
tries is inconceivable. Naturally, however, there
will be keen interest in this country and in Eng
land in the rcjoinder of the Washington govern
ment to the several communications from Sir
Edward Grey, which is about to be dispatched,
| because OF the worldwide importance of the
principle for which the two sides are contending.
The difference between this controversy and
the ore just ended with Germany is too wide
for comparison Germany claimed the right to
murder Americans on the high seas in waging
war against the allies. Great Britain in effect,
claims the right to do as she wills with conf
mcrcc between and neutral ports, SUBJ
ect to judicial decision and review and to inter
I national adjudication. While she has exercised
this asserted right, which is nowhere conceded
our export trade has increased to enormous
proportions, the amount of products going
to neutral ports having doubled and
treblcd, proving their ultimate Teutonic destina-
ton. Our commerce has not suffered seriously
at Great Britains hands and what damage has
been inflicted will be paid for. But it is the
principle which Great Britain, under pressure of
necessity, seeks to establish that the United
States rebels against and refuses to recognize.
There is at issue no law of humanity and civil
izaton" such contended for with Germany
month after month, and President Wilson wisely
and justly refused to consider the British trans
gression in any way related to or justified by
Germany's barbarous methods of warfare just
as he ignored the Berlin claim that Great Britain's
war commerce responsible for the dcstruc-
ton of the Lusitania and the murder of us Amer
ican men, women and children.
In the controversy with Great Britain over
commerce many points involving international
law and its construction are involved and on be-
half of his government Sir Edward Grey in his
several communications to Washington, presented
the most adroitly, fortfyng his very able
argument in support of a vulnerable position
with what he asserted precedent in the
action of the United States government during
the civil The forthcoming note will be in
teresting, therefore, chiefly as further contribu-
ton to international contest between keen
diplomats and profound students of international
law. Those who expecting that it will con-
tain anything in tone substance suggestive of
fnality on part will doubtless be dsap-
pointed. The subject is too intricate for either
party to the dispute to apply cloture rule and
pronounce verdict Our own interests are as
nothing compared with what Great Britain has
at stake
If all efforts to be put forth in COM
batting the obnoxious principle she seeks to es-
tablish, merely because it is obnoxious, all OF
her diplomatic and legal resources will be
called upon to sustain it because she is depending
upon it to aid her in her fight for national exist
ence. The safest prediction is that this inn
portant question involving the freedom of the
seas to neutral commerce will be settled at The
Hague elsewhere after the war