The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-15
LAWLESS ACTS
TO BE KEPT UP
As Secretary Lansing Describ-
ed Them in the Washington
Note about inc Mails.
FAULTS TO BE REMEDIED
British and French Claim to Be
Sincerely Trying to Avoid
Any Entertainments.

~ Arss .tArEa sprsn
WASHINGTON. Oct l4-ln their
latest reply 10 American protests
against interference with neutral
mails, made public tonight by the
state department. the Allied govern
ments reiterate their right to inter-
cept and search all genuine mail
found on neutral vessels on the high
seas or in Allied ports. but they
promise toremedy amy faults, abuses
or serious mistakes in censorship
that may be brought to their atten-
ton. They declare unjustified by
facts the American charge that IL
legal jurisdiction has been gained by
diversion Of neutral ships from the
high seas into the territorial waters
OF the Allies.
The next move OF the American
government has not Jeen determin-
ed.
Note Made Pubic.
The note transmitted Jointly by the
British and French governments was
delivered 10 the state department by
the embassies last Thursday. but was
not made public until tonight by
agreement OF the governments CON
cerned
Il makes reply 10 Secretary Lam
sings memorandum OF May "a. in
which the United States delared the
Allies had been guilty OF "lawless
practices" in their mail censorship
methods and that only radical
Ichange, restoring to the United States
pits full rights as a neutral power, will
satisfy this government.
Calm Sincerity.
II is maintained by the Allies in
their latest note that they are Sin
cerely endeavoring to avoid any en-
croachment on the legitimate exer-
else OF the right OF unofficial neutral
commerce"
Delays and annoyances are una
voidable, II is pointed out, in the ex-
ercise of full belligerent rights by
the Allied authorities. and a long
list OF precedents are cited 10 support
the validity OF the Allied censorship
methods II is suggested that The
Hague condition quoted in the Amer
lean memorandum Is not binding, be-
cause it has not been ratified by sew
eral Of the beiliEerent powers. though
the Allied policy has been guided by
the intentions 1t expresses.
In an informal memorandum sub
mitted some time ago. Great Britain
pointed out at length the changes
made in censorship methods TO cX-
pedite mail examination. These
changes are only referred 10 briefly
in the present communication. The
note is nearly 5000 words in length.
1t argues that the United States and
the Allies agree that the postal
union convention does not apply that
postal packages may he examined to
see il they contain contraband.
Necessary tO Open Mail.
That being 80, the note continues,
ii is necessary to open postal bags
and examination cannot take place
at sea without delay and inconven-
ience Arrangements now have been
made to carry on the examination
with the least possible delay and to
forward innocent art ales to their
destination. Although The Hague
convention OF 1907 has not been ac-
cepted by some of the belliger-
ents, the note says the, Allies
in the preamble as to guarantees
due to personal commerce and leglti-
mate business" but cannot abandon
their right to prevent the fraudulent
erent purposes.
The case OF the Atlanta is cited 10
show information can be useful as
means of war as ammunition and the
note says information as to military
operations and enemy plots in neu-
trail countries, especially the United
States, have been discovered in this
way.
Lincoln's Proclamation Cited.
An examination OF precedents is
held to show that the great powers
have claimed the right to intercept
>enemy correspondence in neutral
Imails. President Lincoln's procla-
nation of May IL, 1862, which de-
clared things and information as
equally contraband OF war is cited as
is the fact that intercepted enemy
correspondence was used in the Uni
ted States courts during the Civil
war and laid before Congress.
The contention of the United States,
the note argues, that money order
lists should be classed as genuine
mail and not as merchandise, does
not take into consideration that such
lists sent from the United States TO
Germany and Austria by mail corre-
spond to money deposited In this
country and serve as a notification to
postal authorities OF the Teutonic
powers to pay out the amounts indi-
Gated, increasing the financial resist
ance OF the Allies enemies. In view
of this money order lists are refused
passage.
Reminder OF Agreement.
In connection with the reminder