The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-15

been repeatedly explained pe1ore thst
His MaJesty's government have osuch
unworthy object in view. We have,
TN fact. in all the steps we have taken
20 prevent British subjects from trad
ing with these specified firms been
most careful 20 cause the least pos
sihle disiocation OF neutral trade, as
much In our interests as in those Of
the neutral.
Ii. / turn now to the question
whether the circumstances of the
present war are such as TO Justify re-
sort on the part of His Majesty's gov
eminent to this novel expedient.
H. AS the United States govern
ment are we'll aware, the Anglo
American practice has in times past
been 10 treat domicil as the test Of
enemy character, in contradistinction
to the continental practice, which has
always regarded nationality as the
test The Anglo-American rule crys-
talllzed at the time when means or
transport and communication were
less developed than now. and when In
consequence OF the actions OF a per-
son established I'm n distant country
could have but little influence upon
a struggle.
IS Today the position is very diff
SereEt The activities 81 enemy sub
JOCKS are Iifllt .4fttftfS, anu 0i''t'A iAiN'A
crn conditions Il IS easy for them.
W horcver resident to remit money to
my place where It may be required for
The use uf their own government. or
re at in other ways calculated to as
stet its purposes and to damage the
interests ~ the powers with whom Il
.s az war NO elaborate exposition Of
'he situation is required TO show that
fun use has been and is being made
q these opportunities
Il The experience OF the war has
proved abundantly. as the United
states government will readily admit.
that many Germans IN neutral coun-
tries have done all in their power to
ae.p the cause OF their own country
and 70 Inture that OF the allies; in
fact II would be no exaggeration 10
say that German houses abroad have
in q large number Of cases been used
as an integral part of an organ.za
SIGN deliberately conceived and plan
rea as an engine for the furtherance
* German political and military am
hifio1s I, Is common knowledge that
German business establishments in
foreign countries have been not mere
IL CCutcrs OF German trade. but active
agents for the disse mination Of Ger
man political and social influence, and
ANff the pun pose Oh tSIlloIlhBt- an sO1iic
cases they have even been used as
bases Of supply for German cruisers,
and IN other cases g organizers and
payma sters OF miEcreants employed 70
destroy nv foul means factories en-
gagged in making. or ships engaged In
carrying. supplies required by the al
lies Such operations have been car
rcd out IN the territory even of the
United States itself, and | am bound
80 observe, what l do not think will
Ire denied. that no adequate actor
has yet been taken by the government
II the United States to suppress!
breaches OF neutrality or this particu
lariy criminal kind. which / know
that they are first to disCountenanc'
-zr7Ji rrUTtUTg.
Is IN the face of enemy activities
vt this nature II was essential for Hi
Majesty = government to take step
that should at least deprive interest
SO strongly hostile OF the facilities an
advantages of unrestricted tradini
n,th Hritish subjects. The publ
opinion If this country would not hav
tal.ratel the pFolongation Of the wa
rs TIN continued liberty of Britis
subjects 10 trade with and SO to en-
r.Hh the FIRMS In foreign countrie
nose wealth and Influence were alik
AZ tine service Of the enemy.
IG, Let me repeat that His Majesty
government made no such claim t
81. etate to citizens Of tho United State'
tcr TO those Of amy other neutral coun
.tre, f4 H. the persons with whom the
are or arc not TO trade. They d
however, maintain the right. which
Tho present crisis Is also their out
. towards the people of this country an
70 their allies, TO withhold Births
facilities from those who condu'
tteir trade for the benefit OF our enc
mics. II the value to these firms
lTttsh facilities Is such as to lea
. them to prefer TO give UP their TRAD
with out enemies rather than to ru
, the risk Of being deprived OF such fl
. gtfgytes. Ills W0festy's government ear
not admit that their acceptance
guarantees to that effect Is either a
library or Incompatible with inferno
= tlonal law or comfy
g II There IS another matter wit
= which should like to deal.
d IS. The idea would seem to be pr
= valent In some quarters that the mi
p jtary position is now such that It
: unnecessary for His Majesty's govern
, r1ent "a take any steps which mig
: prejudice, oven TO a slight extent, Il
! commerce Of neutral countries, tn
: he end ~ the war is in sight. ar
e that nothing which happens in distal
tr,4ti ties can affect the utt
v mate result
: Stiii n Long, bitter Fight.
@ 10. If that were really the positio
! il IL possible that the measures, tak'
q by His Mnjestys government mig
g. he described as uncalled. for: but
- is not. We may well wish that
: were so. Even though the militia
= situation OF the allies has greatly ir
< struggle IN front OF them. and o.
Y which in Justice to the principles +
,, " hich they are fighting imposes up'
them the duty OF employing every o
o portunily and every measure viii
@ they can legit!mately use to overcon
= their opponents
s 40 One observation which IN va
9 commonly heard is that certain be
= ligercnt acts. even though lawful. g
= too petty 10 have any influence upt
:, a struggle OF such magnitude. 1t
\ ! know, difficult for those who ha'
o no immediate contact with war
g realize with what painful anxiety mi
I and women in this country must r
I gard even the smallest acts which ter
y 70 increase. Il only by a hairs hEsaAt
a the danger in which their relatives NJ
: friends daily stand or 10 prolong.
I only, by a minute. the period durir
: which they are TO be exposed TO SUI
4 perila.