The sun., 1916-09-07

retaliation by the United States
against blacklists, holding up the
mails. and trade embnrgoes seems to
he that retaliation is unnecessary, be-
cause damages can be collected after
the war for any illegal commission or
omission by the Entente Allies which
resulted in losses to citizens of neutral
countries. Furthermore. Great Brit
ain Is disposed to regard rctalia-
tion as an unfricndly act toward bel
ligercnts who IRE fighting for their
existence. The plea Is lnslnuated that
they be allowed to regulate the foreign
trade Of neutrals and do about what
they will with the mails IL they
promise 10 pay for their illegal acts
on the return of peace. This Is the
arrogance Of sea power secure in its
strength.
As to Co%niiscation of mail matter by
both the French and British Govern
ments Mr.. LANSING complained In his
note OF May "a that the arbitrary
methods employed" had resulted In
the loss of patents for inventions. i'm
pOrtant legal documents, fire insur-
ice claims, income tax returns,
checks, money orders and securities.
1t must be obvious that after the war
there would in many instances be no
redress. from the difficulty of furnish.
ing legal proof of loss. Great Britain's
reply was in effect that her naval
officers and her other agents had
done their best in the performance of
an imperative duty to avoid mistakes.
The acts complained of were Of curse
theoretically justified. The United
States was told. in substance, that in
IL war 80 elemental novel conditions
must arise, and naturally the Entente
Allies had to deal with these condi-
tiOns in their Owl interests. although
admitting that the rights of ncutrals
might he unavoidably violated. But
when the war was over satisfaction
would be given.
All this is extremely evasperating
To neutrals. The plan Of retaliation
attached To the general revenue bill,
which the Senate passed on Tuesday.
Is the answer of the United States.
OF course there are crudities in the
plan. 1t could hardly he otherwise.
for Great Britain's use of the black
list. her embargo or imports. and her
methods Cf asserting the right to eX-
anime ocean mails are comparatively
new In warfare. International law
yers are as mystificd as they are in.
dicnant. If the offence Is unusual
the remedy has to be unusual.
The President, is authorized TO meet
embargo with embargo. to withhold
clearance Thy using the army and
navy If necessary from vessels that
discriminate against American ship
perS. and To deny the privilege of the
mails and the facilities of express
and telegraph companies to the citi-
zens, firms and companies of bellig-
erent countries that exclude American
citizens. firms. and companies from
the enjoyment Of trade opportunities
through the usual mediums.
This Is retaliation to the hilt. and
there are dangers in it. In the hands
OF n President who is not Il sound law.
yer and whose judgment Is erratic the
commission may be regarded as too
general. Unless he uses his authority
wisely there will ensue a trade war
full Of complications with the Entente
Allies, ifthey do not yield their ground.
More likely there will be note on tote.
and little accomplished. Giving the
President the right to use the army
and navy to detain merchant ships i'm
plies Il threat that may have ugly
consequences. Was 1t not dangerous
surplusage? Yet it is time the United
States not only asserted its rights, bur
adopted vigorous retaliatory measures
in support Of them. 1t is a pity, how
, ever. that more consideration was not
given to the procedure of the plan
of retaliation.