South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-31
Text of Note of Protest on Blacklist

government OF the United States
hegs 10 remind the government OF
his Britannia majesty that citizens
Of the United States are entirely
within their rights in attempting TO
trade with the people OF the govern
ment Of any Of the nations now at
war. subject only 10 well-defined
International practices and under
standings which the government Of
the United States deems the gov
eminent Of Great Britain to have
too highly and too frequently dis
regarded There are well known
10 medies and penalties for breaches
Of blockade where the blockade is
real and in fact effective, for trade
in contraband. for every unneufIal
act BY whomsoever attempted.
The government OF the United States
cannot consent to Sc those remedies
and penalties altered or extended
at the will of a single power or
group Of powers 70 the injury Of
its own citizens or in derogation Of
its own rights. Conspicuous among
the principles which the civilized
nations of the world have accept
ed for the safeguarding of the
rights of neutrals is the just and
honorable principle that neutrals
may not be condemned nor their
goods confiscated except upon fair
adjudication and after an oppor-
tunity TO be heard in prize courts
or elsewhere. Such safeguards the
blacklist brushes aside. Ii condemns
without hearing without notice and
in advance. 1t is manifestly out Of
the question that the government Of
the United states SHOULD acquire
in such methods or applications of
punishment TO its citizens.
Whatever may be said with re-
gard to the legality, in the view of
international obligation Of the act of
parliament upon which the practice
Of the blacklist as now employed by
his majesty's government is under
stood 10 be based. the government
Of the United States is constrained
to regard that practice as inconsist-
ent with that true justice, sincere
amity. and impartial fairness which
should characterize the dealings of
friendly governments with one an
other The spirit OF reciprocal trade
between the United States and Great
Britain, the privilege long accorded
to the nations of each to come and
go with their ships and cargoes to
use each the others shipping and
be served each by the others mer-
chants is very seriously impaired by
arbitrary and sweeping practices
such as this. There is no purpose
or inclination on the part Of the
government of the United States to
shield American citizens or business
houses in any way from the legiti-
mate consequences of unneutral acts
or practices; it is quite willing that
they should suffer the appropriate
penalties which international law
and the usage of nations have sane
toned but his Britannia majesty's
government cannot expect the gov
eminent of the United States con-
sent 70 see it's citizens put on ex-
parte blacklist without calling the
attention of his majesty's govern
ment, in the gravest terms to the
many serious consequences to neu-
trail right and neutral relations
which such an act must necessarily
involve. 1t hopes and believes that
mis- maiesty's government, in its nat
| ural adherence in a single pressing
object Of policy. has acted without
full realization Of the many unde-
sired and undesirable results that
might ensue."