Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-09-11
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Lord Robert Cecil, the British
Minister of War Trade, processes
to be puzzled by the provisions of
the Revenue Bill passed by Congress
dealing with the prohibition of i'm
ports The American people are not
| puzzled. For many months passed
they have been waiting for the Con
gress Of the United States to take
| some action against Great Britain
interfering with our trade and mail.
Now Congress has given the Presi-
| dent discretionary power to bring
Great Britain to her knees or ac-
! cept the inevitable. What will be
done with these powers between
now and the seventh day Of No
vember is what the American people
are watchfully waiting to note. They
can be written into the history Of
acts taken to defend American
rights, or they may not be.
The assumption that the rights OF
mad belligerency are superior to
and may overcome those OF sane
neutrality Is insupportable by the
American people. When Lord Rob-.
ert Cecil, therefore, observes that
1T is not likely that Great Britain
viii change her blacklist policy at
the request of the United States";
and, furthermore, when questioned
as to the fate Of an American vessel
accepting from a blacklist firm
freight for South American port,
expresses himself in these words:
fear we have to insist that our
nationals refuse to supply coal for
such purpose and / am afraid that
refusal OF the United States to
permit the clearance OF a vessel re-
fusing such consignment would
cause friction between the two coun-
tries when a British Minister for
War Trade makes such threats as
these, he Is either making fool Of
himself, or smoothing the path for
Mr.. Wilson to make one out of the
Chief Executive of the United States
We know what our rights are, and
Woodrow Wilson knows what they
are---fOr he has on innumerabIe oc-
casions stated them In black and
white to Downing Street, and pro-
claimed them from the public rost-
rum. We know, too that they have
been infringed upon and still are be-
ing infringed upon by the author
lties OF Great Britain. and we have
Dcen informed by Mr.. Lloyd George
that their infringement is not alto
gcther matter OF present military
necessity. Speaking to the Parlia-
ment recently, Britain's War Minis
ter said.
ut is the practice to communicate
to other departments concerned any
information on matters OF public in
tercst which may be obtained
through the censorship for such use
to be made of it as the particular
department may consider advisable"
We have long suspected and we
know that the trade secrets Of Amer
lean business firms are being stolen
and placed at the disposal Of their
British competitors We know,
too, the aim and purpose Of the Brit
ish blacklist and blockade" to be
nothing more nor less than the re-
preston of American trade until the
moment when British trade can
again enter into fritful competition
with it. Yet Lord Robert Cecil ap-
prehends friction between the two
countries" should MI Wilson exer-
else the powers thrust upon him BY
the Congress OF the American peo-
pie.
1t remains to be seen if really Sc
rious frictions will arise II President |
Wilson should make use of the power
conferred upon him. 1t may be that |
the British Government will take a
second thought before it throws the |
friendship Of the United States to
the winds.