The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-11-22
countries to meet their minimum

needs.
A not less "lawless practice" has
been the Entente Allied censorship
of mails which has been called "vex-
ationsly inquistorial." Here again is
an absolute conflict bteween neutral
and belligerent rights. Neutrals have
the right of inviolability of genuine
correspondence; belligerents have the
right to search mails for contraband.
Obviousl y, mails cannot be searched
and inviolate at the same time. A
reply is due from this government to
the British and French note of Oc-
tober Is, which itself was over four
months delayed.
The British refusal of the Ameri-
can attitude as to the black list,
which was called an arbitrary inter-
terence with neutral trade" has just
come and will require answer. The
British claim it is merely municipal
legislation to prevent their own sub
lects from dealing with tirmss aiding
the enemy even if in neutral coun-
tries. The United States holds that
IN effect this is extending British
control over into American affairs.
The prohibition of importation of
raw materials from the British do
minions into this country except un-
der guarantee that they will not
reach German firms is another gal
ling restriction, not so much because
the right of embargo is disputed as
that in its administration the Brit
lsh embassy here decides finally what
tlrms shall and what firms shall not
be favored. This gives a control over
american industries and a knowledge
of American trade secrets that is re-
sented.
TO meet these trade restrictions is
the retallatory Legislation passed at
the eleventh hour by Congress. In
tensive study is being given it though
no announcement of it's application
has been made. 1t may be applied
to all cases or to only certain speci-
nc cases and may be invoked when
ever the President desires. 1t can
rcach all the points of issue above.
Beyond the war the President must
decide Americas attitude toward the
peace conference. Undoubtedly Amer
,can interests will be involved, nota-
ply IN China, and the Pacific islands
taken from Germany and also in the
effort to secure a basis for q LASTING
peace and in the necessary rc-writ-
ing of international law.
The trade war after the war offers
most tangled problems. Great doubt
IS felt that it can go through because
1T is admittedly uneconomic and m-
reasoning in that the Entente Ai-
iicd nations are competitive rather
than coordinativc and because free
commercial intercourse will be essen
tIal to all. Nevertheless, it's appro-
val by the Paris conference and it's
increasing agitation abroad makes
preparation against it necessary. The
webb bill, now before Congress-, to
permit cooperation among exporters
VIII be one Of the first steps urged.
Most vital Of all perhaps is Presi-
aent wilson's advocacy of league of
nations to guarantee against another
war. Admittedly this destroys Amer
lcan isolation and commits the nation
to active interest in and cooperation
with other countries. The British,
French and German foreign sccreta-
RES have endorsed the plan in
theory; what remains for this coun-
try Is to work it out in practice.
Many other more local problems
press for solution. Mexico is in q
very serious plight. Officials are be-
ginning to despair of Carranla, vet
no alternative is sescn. The Nicar-
aguan treaty is being bitterly pro
tested by. the other Central Amer
lean nations and offers a possible
source of trouble. Conditions there
and in San Domingo and Haiti are
unsettled. Also the treaty for the
purchase of the Danish West Indies
Denmark.