The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-05-30

this government, the ueIdIIS VI "uISH
are available, but believe ! have
cited sufficient facts to show the un-
Drecedented and reXatious Eature Of
the interference with mails persisted
in by British and French authorities.
Not only are American commercial
interests injured but rights Of prop
erty are violated and the rules Of in
ternational law and customs are pal
pably disregarded. l can only add
tina, the continuing offense has led to
such losses to American citizens and
to a possible responsibility Of the
United States to repair them that this
government will be compelled In the
near future to press claims for full
reclamation upon the attention of his
majesty's government and that of the
French republic.
"The principle being plain and def
mite, and the present practice of the
governments of Great Britain and
France being clearly in contravention
of the principle, 1 will state more in
detail the position of the government
of the United States in regard to the
treatment of certain classes of sealed
mails under a strict application Of
the principle upon which our govern
ments seems to be in general accord.
The government of the United States
is inclined to the opinion that the
class of mail matter which includes
stocks, bonds, coupons and similar Sc
curities is to be regarded as the
same nature as merchandise or other
articles Of property and subject to
the same exercise of belligerent right.
Money; orders, checks, drafts, notes
and :other negotiable instruments
which may pass as: the equivalent of
money. are, it is: considered, also to
be classed as merchandise. Cores
pondence, including shipping docu-
ments, money order lists and papers
of that character, even though relat-
ing to enemy supplies or exports. un-
less carried on the same ship as the
property referred to, are, in the op-
inion of this government to be-. re-
garded as genuine correspondence,
and entitled to unmolested passage.
" . Must Define Rights.
1.-THE government of the United
States, in view of the improper meth
DDS: employed by the British and
French authorities in interrupting
mails passing between the United
States and other neutrals and be-
tween the United States and the enc
mics of Great Britain, eau no longer
tolerate the wrongs which citizens of
the United States have suffered and.
continue to suffer through these
methods. To submit to lawless
practice of this character would open
the door to repeated violations of in
ternational law by the belligerent
powers on the ground of military ne
cess;ty of which the violator would
he the sole Judge. Manifestly neu-
trail ration can not permit its rights
On the high seas to be permitted or
denied arbitrarily by the government
of a warring nation. The rights of
neutrals are as sacred as the rights
of beiligerents and must be strictly
observed.
"The government of the United
States, confident in the regard for in
ternational law and the rights Of neu-
trails, which ;he British and French
governments have so often. proclaim
ed and; the disregard Of which, they
have urged SO vigorously against
their enemies in the present war, ex-
poets the present practice of the
British apd French authorities in the
treatment of mails from or to the
United States to cease and belliger-
ents' rights, as exercised, to con-
form to the principle government the
passage of mail matter and to the
recognized practice of nations. Only
radical change in the present Brit
ish and French policy, restoring to
the United States its full rights as
"a neutral power, will satisfy this
government.