Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-31
STERN PROTEST
GOES TO BRITAIN
ON BLACK LIST
Warned of Many Serious
Consequences Involved
in Act.
STATES POSITION OF u. S.
"lN GRAVEST TERMS"
Manifestly Out of Question That
This Government Should Ac-
quiesce in Such Methods.
SENT TO PAGE FOR DELIVERY
American Note Even More Positive
In Terms Than Indicated
by Officials.

by Officials.
WASHINGTON. July 3o.-Great Brit
amt is warned, In the American note
OF protest against the black list. made
public tonight by the state Depart
rnent, OF the many aerious conse-
quences TO neutral right and neutral
relations which such an act must ncces-
sarily involve"
Already In the hands Of the British
Foreign Office. the note declares "in
the gravest terms" that 1t is manifest
Is out Of the question that the govern
ment Of the United States should ac-
quiesce in such mehods." and that the
United states regards the black lis,
as Inevitably and essentially incon-
sistent with the rights of all the citi-
zens OF ali the nations not involved
In the war" II reminds ;he British
government that citizens of the United
states are entirely within their rights
in attempting 10 trade with the pcoplc
or the governments oE any of the ma
tons now at war subject only to we'll
defined international practices and un-
dcrstandings which the government OF
the United States seems the govern
ment OF Great Britain to have too
lightly and frequently disregarded"
The American note is even more posi-
tive in its terms than officials .have
intimated. Ambassador Page was in
structed by Acting Secretary Polk TO
deliver it formally and textually. IT
follows:
The announcement that His Britain
mic Matesty's government has placed
the names of certain persons. firms,
and corporations In the United State.
upon proscriptIve -blnck list and has
forbidden all financial or commercial
dealings between them and citizens of
Great Britain has been received with
the most painful surprise by the pco-
pie and government of the United
States. and seems to the government
of the United States to cmbody A policy
OF arbitrary interference with neu-
trail trade against which il is it's duty
TO protest in the most decided terms.
SCOPE AND EFFECT
OF POLICY EXTRA
The scope and effect of the policy
are extraordinary. British steamship
companies Will not accept cargoes
from the prescribed firms or persons
or transport their goods to any port,
and steamship lines under neutral
ownership understand that IL they ac-
cept freight from them they are likely
10 be denied coal at British ports and
excluded from other privileges which
they have usually enjoyed, and may
themselves be put upon the black list.
Neutral bankers refuse loans to those
on the list and neutral merchants de-
cline TO contract for their goods, fear
ing like prescription. 1t appears that
British officials regard the prohibi-
tions OF the black list as applicable
to domestic commercial transactions
in foreign countries as we'll as In
Great Britain and her dependencies,
for Americans doing business In for
eign countries have been put on notice
that their dealings with blacklisted
firms are to be regarded as subject to
veto by the British government. By
the same principle Americans i'm the
United states might be made subject
TO similar punitive action if they were
found dealing with any of their own
icountrymen whose names had thus
been listed.
The harsh and even disastrous ef-
fects of this policy upon tho trade OF
the United States and upon the neu-
trail rights upon which il will not fail
to insist are obvious. Upon the list
OF those prescribed and in effect shur
out from the general commerce of the
world may be found American con-
Germs which arc engaged in large COM
mercial operations as importers of for
eisn products and materials and as
distributors of American products and
manufactures to foreign countries ana
which constitute important channels
through which American trade reaches
the outside world. Their foreign affil-
iations may have been fostered for
many years. and when once broken
cannot easily or promptly be re-estab-
lshcd. Other concerns may be nut
upon the list at any time and without
notice. IT is underst ood that additions
to the prescription may be made when
ever on account of enemy nationality or
enemy association Of such persons or
bodies of persons it appears to His
Majesty cXpedicnt TO do so. The pos
sibilities Of undeservcd injury to
American citizens from such measures.
arbitrarily taken. and of serious and
incalculablc Interruptions OF American
trade are without limit.
ESSENTIALLY INCONSISTENT
WITH RIGHTS OF NEUTRALs
''It has been stated on behalf of Ills
Majcsty's government that these meas
ures wero aimed only at the enemies
OF Great Britain, and would he adopted
aud enforced with strict regard to the
rights of neutrals, and with the least
possible dctriment TO neutral trade. but
II is evident that they arc inevitably
and essentially inconsistent with tho
rights of the citizens of all the nations
CONTINUED on Third PaSc.)