Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-02-27

oerning Americas rights, and has
used some very strong adjectives.
Sir Edward is understood to have de-
cided that Americans like plain
speaking, such as the president utters
on their behalf, and accordingly the
piece de resistance of the forthcoming
note will be a strongly worded indict-
ment of neutral nations for protest
ing against the British blockade while
they permit the Germans without
serious remonstrance to sink neutral
ships suspected Of carrying contra
band.
Some Pertinent Points.
The foreign office, it is understood,
will not raise the question of the
sinking of passenger ships, which
America has not passed over in 81
lencc, but will pointedly inquire why
such incidents as the sinking of the
William +. Frye bA'ause they carried
goods for Englant were not resented
more sharply by Mr.. Wilson than the
British procedure of haling such
ships into port, putting in the prize
court such goods as may be suspect
ed, and permitting the ships to pro-
coed. II will be contended that by
permitting Germany to sink neutral
merchant ships by mine and subma-
goods, even after safeguarding the
crews, America has created a prece-
dent which makes it vain for her to
appeal in the name of ancient sea
usDGe against the infinitely milder
and more just British procedure.
An authority on international law
spoke to me very forcibly concerning
Americas demand that the letter of
the law as laid down by herself in
1861 be now followed by the allies
your whole blockade Of the south
was utterly illegal" he said, but we
accepted ii becSuse we realized that
International law must change with
conditions. The doctrine of continu-
Gus voyage to which we now appeal
to stop goods for Germany being
shipped to "A neutral port was con-
trary to past usage when you invent
ed II, but we acquiesced because 1t
was fundamentally just as applied to
the conditions existing in the sixties
BY what right do you now say to
us. in effect, We Americans when at
war changed the old rules to suit our
necessities but you may not do the
same: you must be bound by the rules
we made fifty years ago?
I'VE are compelled to blockade
Germany from a distance because OF
the submarine. We are compelled by
Germany's geographical position to
extend in effect the blockade to the
countries surrounding her The prob
lem of what constitutes contraband
would not worry your statesmen If
they would remember that the condi-
tions of this war. the first war Of eX-
haustion in modern history, make
every kind of foodstuff of vital mill
tary importance to the enemy, while
the inventive genius of the last forty
years has utilized for warlike pur-
poses practically all the ordinary
goods of commerce. If you cannot
dispute those facts, how can you have
the face to protest against what we
are doing when you applied the same
principle in your own war, the prin-
| ciple of taking what steps you could
consistent with ordinary humanity to
bri~~ your enemies to their knees"
Regular Blockade.
Many American jurists, and il is
believed the American government it
se'f. would lie pleased if Great Britain
alone. or together with her allies, de-
| clared regular blockade of the Ger
man coasts and superseded the orders
in council of March last under which