Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-08-21
ENFORCING THE BLACKLISTINC
POLICY

ENFORCING THE BLACKLIsTING
POLICY.
England has been so long per-
mitted to trample ruthlessly upon
American trade rights that she has
come to the conclusion that she can
proceed to any lengths without being
called to account by our Government.
Lately she placed on blacklist
eighty-fve firms doing business in
the United States. Not only were
the firms named in this list to be
boycotted, but any persons having
any dealings with them were to be
subjected to similar treatment.
American ship owners known to ac-
cept freight from them will be sub
jected to all sorts OF penalties. Their
ships calling 1T British ports in any
part Of the world will be denied the
privilege of re-coaling and will have
to submit to veXatious and costly de-
lays. All this in punishment for
having dealings with American firms
which have been blacklisted by Eng
land.
The situation thus created was OF
such an outrageous character that
nothing was left to our Government
but to enter a protest against it,
This the State Department did in a
note addressed to the British Tor
eign Ofice. By way of answer thir-
teen more American firms were
placed on the English black list. It
was equivalent to saying to President
Wilson and his official advisers that
American trade possesses no rights
on the high seas except those con-
ceded by England. Such is the
theory held in London. This theory
is being put in practise as is shown
by the following Washington dis
patch: THE State Department has
been informed that British cruisers
in the Pacific have intercepted mer-
chant ships bound for American
ports with cargoes owned, or be-
lieved to be owned, by firms on the
British blacklist"
This is pure and unadulterated
piracy to which no country that suf-
fers from it can submit tamely and
retain it's self-respect. The piratical
practlses Of those British cruisers in
the Pacific constitute a challenge the
United States may not ignore. 1t Is
stated that British cruisers are pa
trolling the trade route to the Philip
pines. Vessels with cargoes assigned
to the Philippines have been stopped
and goods alleged to have been for
warded by blacklisted firms have
been removed. That means that
England assumes the right to regu-
late trade between the United States
and an American dependency. In
principle it is the same as IL England
should attempt to dictate what sea
trade shall be conducted between the
port of New York and the port Of
Boston. Concede the right Of Brit
ish cruisers to stop ships with Amer
ican cargoes sailing between the
United States and the Philippines
and take from them blacklisted
goods and you acknowledge British
control over our entire coast trade.
Are the authorities in Washington
ready to go to such lengths in their
desire to do nothing that is displcas-
ing to England?
They certainly cannot be blind to
the gross insult flung at the Amer
lean flag every time a British cruiser
stops an American ship bound for
the Philippines and takes from her
| goods shipped by American firms
arbitrarily blacklisted by British
officials. A Washington dispatch to
the New York American would seem
to encourage the hope that at last
the Administration will take steps to
call England to an account for her
blacklisting policy. The dispatch in
! question quotes member Of the Ad-
ministration as saying "This new
phase of British conduct is indefens-
! ible for two reasons. First Great
Britain has not yet settled with us
on the principle of the blacklist;
second, Great Britain seemingly as
serts the right to stop neutral ships
and take off so called tainted car
goes. BY the same logic she can stop
American ships and take off cargoes
assigned to American firms whose
names are on the blacklist We must
demand that England tell us whether
or not she proposes to stop by force
trading between American ports and
! the Philippines, which are a part Of
our own country"
If a satisfactory reply be not re-
turned to this demand it will be the
duty Of Congress to adopt some re-
taliatorv action to put stop to
/ England's piratical policy as applied