El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-07-31

7
| names had thus been listed
Policy Is Disastrous
| The harsh and even disastrous ef-
| fcctS of this policy upon the trade Of
| the United States and upon the neu-
! trail rights upon which il viii not fail
! 10 insist are obvious. Upon the list of
] thoSe prescribed and in effect shut
out from the general commerce Of the
| world may be found American con
! Germs which are engaged in large COM
/ ntrclai operations as importers of
1 foreign products and materials and as
| distributors OF American products and
| manufacturers TO foreign countries and
/ hich constitutes important channels
] through which American trade reaches
/ the outside world
Their foreign affiliations NAV have
heen fostered for many years. and
( when once broken cannot easily or
/ promptly be reeStablished. Other con-
| Germs may be put up on the list at anv
time and without notice. II is under
| God that additions TO the poscrip-
tion may be made whenever on ac-
count of enemy nationality or enemy
association Of such persons or bodies
OF persons IL appears to his ma iestv
eXpedient to do so The possibilities
OF undeserVed injury TO American citi-
z, ms from such measures. arbitrarily
/ taken. and Of serious and incalcula-
I lie Interruptions of American trade
are without limit.
Inconsistent With Neutral Rights.
1t has been stated on behalf of his
MAJESTY : government tnaT these meas
UreS We're aimed only AT the enemies
Of Great Britain and would be adopted
ard enforced with strict regard to the
rights of neutrals and with the least
possible detriment TO neutral trade: bu+
i is evident that they are inevitab lv
and essentially inconsistent with the
rights Of the citizens Of all the nations
not involved in war
The government OF the United
States hegs 10 remind the government
q MS brltann1c majesty that citizens
Of the United States are entirely within
their rights in attempting 10 trade
with the people or the government of
any OF the nations now 1t war. subject
only to well defined international prac-
tees and understandings which the
government Of the United States deems
the government of Great Britain to
have too lightly and too frequently
disregarded.
Can't Extend Remedies
There are well known remedies and
where the blockade Is real and in facr
effective for trade in contraband for
every unneutral act by Whomsoever
attempted The government of the
Elted States cannot consent TO see
those remedies ard penalties altered
or extended at the viii Of a single
power or group Of powers TO the in
Jury of its own citizens or in deroga-
ton Of its own rights.
Conspicuous among the principles
which the civilized nations of the
world have accepted for the safeguard
ing OF the rights Of neutralS is the
lust and honorable principle that neu-
tails may not he condemned nor their
goods conflscated except upon fair ad-
!udIcation and after an opportunity to
re hearo III prize courts or elsewhere.
such safeguards the blacklist brushes
aside It condemns without hearing,
without notice and in advance II IS
rianifeStly out OF the question that the
government Of the United States should
acquiesce in such methods or applica-
tons of punishment to its citizens.
Blacklist Is Unjust.
" hateNer may be said with regard
20 the legality. in the view of interna-
tional obligation. of the act of parlia-
ment upon which the practice Of
the black list as now employed
his majesJy's government is un-
derStoOd TO be based, the government
of the United States is constrained 70
regard that practice as inconsistent
with that true justice. sincere amity.
and impartial fairness which should
characterize the dealings of friendly
governments with one another The
SPIRIT of reciprocal trade between the
United States and Breat Britain. the
privilege long accorded to the nations
q each TO come and 90 with their F;
S1lpS and cargoes. TO use each the
Others shipping and be served each ~
the others merchants is very seriously
impaired by arbitrary and sweeping |
practices such as this
I. :. Can't Acquiesce In Policy.
There Is no purpose or inclination
on the part of the government Of the
nited states 10 shield American citi- |
Zens or business houses in any way
from the legitimate consequences of |
unneutral acts or practices: il is quite |
willing that they should suffer the
appropriate penalties which interna- |
t:onal law and the usage Of nations |
have sanctioned: but his Britannia
majesty's government cannot expect the /
government Of the United States 10 |
consent m
exparte blacklist without calling the |
attention Of his maiesty's government.
IN the gravest terms to the many Sc I
riOuS consequences to neutral rights |
and neutral relations which such an |
act must necessarily involve. Il hopes \
and believes that his majesty's govern
ment. in its natural absorption in l
single pressing object of policy. has |
acted without a full realization of the |
many undesired and undesira Bile results |
that might enSue''