The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-22
GREA'f BRITAIN ASKED FOR
IMMEDIATE REPLY ON MAILS

Washington. Feb. 21.-Secretary Of
State Lansing announced today, in
effect, that the United States has
asked Great Britain to answer forth
with this governn ents protest aginst
her seizure of American mails in vio-
Iation of The Hague rules and inter-
national law.
Ambassador Page, 1t was said. has
been instructed also to get an answer
on the protest of the United States
against the application of the British
trading with the enemy act" as at
fecting freedom of trade between the
two countries.
The forcible taking of German cit
liens from the American ship China
in Asiatic waters and a new message
to the department from Ambassador
Page, indicating that trade with the
United States in many articles can be
conducted only under special
licenses from the British government,
have added greatly to the irritation In
administration circles against Great
Britain.
Officials indicate. In fact. that the
controversy with Great Britain now
overshadows the issues between the
United States and any other foreign
country. The question between the
United States and Germany. they said.
Is serious. but there is hope that
middle ground may be found for set
Element. They pointed out, however.
that past experience gives ground for
apprehension that Great Britain will
neither explain nor apologize.
1t was stated by an official that the
emergency is such that the United
States should recede from the position
heretofore taken that she would not
press Great Britain for settlement UNI
til the important issues with Germany
had been disposed of. The fact that
a demand has been sent to Great
Britain for early replies TO this gov
ernment's protests was interpreted TO
mean that the administration itself is
actually of this view. The understands
ing exists at the State Department
that President Wilson personally d.
rected that the instruction be sent to
Mr.. Page.
Wake ForcfbIe Demand.
II was disclosed by officials other
than Secretary Lansing that the mes
sage on the mails TO Ambassador Page
is that he shall make a vigorous and
"forcible" demand on the British for
eign ONCE to expedite the long delayed
reply to the protest on the mails His
original Instructions on this matter
were that he should press vigorously
for prompt action. This government
II Is understood, has been disturbed by
news that Great Britain has answered
Holland in a most arbitrary manner
stating that seizures of malls, even OF
a diplomatic character. are 3ustifia BILE
under her order Ia council. which. she
says, warrants such acts within the
jurisdictional waters OF the United
Kingdom.
The United States denies iatly this
assumed right of Great Britain under
any form or construction of interna
tionai law or special municipal enact
ment.
The instructions TO Ambassador
Page. IL is stated. do not stop with
the question of mails. Great Britain
has not answered the inquiry OF the
United States on her restriction OF COM
merce brought about by her applica-
ton OF the trading with the enemy
act" The object OF this application,
as understood by State Department OF
Hctafs, was not only TO strike an ad-
ditionai blow at American commerce.
but TO inture naturalixed German citi-
xeus who are engaged IN commerce
with Europe. 1t is said. in fact, that
Mr.. Page has been informed that he
must take up very seriously with the
British foreign once all the big ques-
tons which Great Britain has SO long
evaded.