Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-15
BRITAIN NOT READY
Continued from Page One)

to discountenance and deplore
IN the face of enemy activities Of
this nature it was essential for His
Majesty's government to take steps
that should at least deprive interests
SO strongly hostile Of the facilities and
advantages of unrestricted trading
with British subjects. The public opin-
ion of this country would not have toll
Grated the prolongation of the war bv
the continued liberty of British sub
jects to trade with and SO enrich the
firms in foreign countries whose
wealth and influence were alike at the
services of the enemy"
The note is based largely on the ar
gument that there is no assumption by
Great Britain of power to interfere
with neutral traders, but that tho
BLACKLIST is matter OF municipal law
en]olnlng British subjects from trading
WIN persons found to be assisting or
rendering service to the enemy 1t dis
claims any intention of imposing penal.
'les or disabilities upon neutral trade
Right Of Blacklist
Il can scarcely believe" it saws
that the United States government in.
TENDS to challenge the right Of Great
hHtain as sovereign state to pass
legislation prohibiting all those who
owe her allegiance from trading with
Any sPeclhed persons when such nrohi-
o'tioh Is found necessary in the pub.
i' interest. Inc right to do so is so
OBVIOUS that | feel sure that the pro-
test which Your ENcellency has hand
Cd to me has been founded on a mis-
conception Of the scope and intent IF
the measures which have been take,, :"
Ihe note says the British govern
ment readily admits the United States,
contention that neutral have tho richt
to trade with belligerents Int that tho
United States must admit tho rioht ~
one belligerent to stop this trade nv
la"fuI means. as seizures of coptr.,-
oand or blockade. But this particular
legislation, it goes on to saw. is NOT of
this character.
Sovereign Right
1T Is says the note. IAN exerciss
OF the sovereign right Of an inde,,end-
ent state over its own citizen. ,,1
nothing more
1t is pointed out that over, e,.,,,s. :,
allied nations are being placed on tho
list where there is reason tn ho,;o,.o
that British subjects should NOT tr,do
with them and the assertion mad 49,.
,"e measure Is not against American
III particular, but part Of gen
Tai "eiiisereht operations designed to
weaken the onemy's resources
answering the American co,to..,...
'i'a' 'here is serious danger to neutral
commerce generally in the British abilitv
TO extend the list where it seems exned;-
ent, the note says that this is true h,,.
that the American government NAV roc,
assured that this system of prohihition.
will not be carried further than is abso.
lutely necessary"
1T has been forced upon u.s." continues
the note by the circumstances of tho
present war. To extend it beyond wha,
Is required In order to secure it's imme.
date purpose-the weakening of the re-
sources OF our opponents-or to allow :,
to interfere with what is really the gen.
uine neutral trade of country with
which we desire to have the closest com.
mercial intercourse would be contrary to
British interests. The advantage derived
from commercial transaction betwee,
the British subject and a foreigner is
mutual"
viscount Grey says apparently there are
persons in the United States almost inn
possible to convince that Great Britain
is taking measures against its enemies
and not merely to foster its own trade
at the expense Of neutrais. He denied his
government ''have such an unworthy OBJ
ject in view," asserting that in all casas
his government has done everything DOS