Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-21
ALLIES JUSTIFY
SHIP SEIZURE
FROM PRECEDENT
Great Britain and France Say
They Are Following Rules
Laid Down by United States
During Civil War

fav soNiipo JouHrAL SPECIAL LgAsan wlss1
Washington, April 20.-According
20 authentic Information reaching
Washington, Great Britain and
France, IN their Joint note, replying
to the American protest against inter-
ierences with neutral trade. make no
attempt 60 dispute principles contend
ed for By Che United states, but in-
sst that those principles nave been
given legal Interpretation aud appli-
cation by the allies in their blockade
OF Germany and Austria.
This note, which will be handed TO
the state department within the next
day or two. by the british and
French ambassadors IL Understood 10
he long and extremely technical,
treating Of the whole subject on n
purely legal basis ana relying largely
upon the procedcnts laid down by the
United States In the civll war. II IL
said the allies assume that the Unit
cd states government does not con-
tend that II han the right to ship
goods without restrictions into Ger-
many or Austria through contiguous
neutral countries, such as Holland,
Sweden and Denmark
The concession Of the right 20
blockade nm enemy country. which "
universally recognized, Is regarded ns
necessarily carrying with It the right
to regulate the admission of goods 90
the neutral country, evidently dos
tined 10 he transferred to the enemy.
! Consequently. II II contended that II
| Is perfectly within the sphere of in
tefnationul Inv TO limit imports into
Of goods that might be of use TO Ger
many aud Austria 70 the amount
normally consumed IN the neutral
country.
Moreover, Il is argued that an IN
cdent TO the exercise OF this rieht 20
regulation Of imports II the right to
search vessels approaching The ncu-
! tral country In this connection the
allies hold that while in early days
II was possible To conduct such Il
] FfAltn IL Nfus iNllAAAllliF VI Ul'NNA -
sea traffic have made this impos-
sible. since II has become necessary
10 take the neutral ship TO the near
est convenient port whore the cargo
may be oyanined This is the eX-
PLANTATION offered for The apparent un-
reasonable diversion OF many ships
from their regular courses aud what
has been complained OF as an I'M
necessary delay IN search 1t was
with a view TO reducing complaint on
this score, II Is pointed cur, that ar
engagements weto made for the Brit
ish embassy here to advise without
delay American shippers whether
their cafgoes probably would be sub.
ject to detention.
Another point made by the allies
is that the character Of ships papers
have changed completely owing tC
modern commercial methods. 20 that
no longer can they he relied upo,
to supply all the evidence necessary
TO establish the character OF eargC
aud It's liability 20 seizure The pfac-
tioe of consiening goods TO order oi
TO individuals in neutral countrics
who arc mol the real consumers OF
the goods, but are actually distribute
ing agents ANA forwafdcrs TO ,he On
onA country, the allies insist hal
made Il necessary IN eases wher'
neutral ships are detained. 10 rcfci
their eases "a prize courts for eN
animation instead of accepting tn,
ships papers at their face value
Complaint hy the United states tina
the prize courts cannot te recoeni2c,
as competent So render final decision
in the eases Of seized OF detained YES
sele and carseos Is met lay reference
70 The recent decision IN England 4
, the cffec, that prize courts must h
, governed by the principle OF interua
tiona law and where orders In coun
I'll conflict the latter must give way
There Sc also. IL is pointed out, al
acknowledgment Of the right Of th'
neutral power. whose ship is selgod
50 appeal 90 the highest judicial trib
Hnal and even 20 take up the ems
dplomatioaliy II dissatisfied This
it IL pointed eut, WIS the position AS
: summed hy the United states govern
. moni during the civil war in The fam
! Gus bermuda cases. when the Brit
. ish government waited three year
! Tor decision OF the United state
D supreme court Ia the Spiing 10
, ease