The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-23
Trade War in Retaliation Suggested Unless Recent
 Decree Is Moderated
PRESIDENT TO MAKE
 PROTEST FORMALLY
No Nation Has a Right to Dictate Trading Conditions for Bona Eide American
 Citizens
By HIGH. ". ROBERTS.

Washington, July 22.-(special.)-It is not Germany which at present vexes the Americai spirit. The action of Great Britain in blacklisting 100 American firms which, in past months. have done busi- ness, in neutral manner. with Germany, has incensed Congress, and presented 10 the department of state that which is considered the most delicate problem with which it has had to deal since the ad- justment of the submarine issue.
 It is very plainly indicated that Presi- dent Wilson is preparing a note of pro- test. The intimation, however. that ac- ton in retaliation will be postponed until ,, the beginning of the new half session in December, has found little favor. That England would attempt to punish-to put out of business-American firms which have sold goods of a non-contraband na- ture to Germany, is palpably repugnant to the American spirit Unless the United Kingdom can, through diplomacy, be brought to more just position. there is no question but that in the near future an actual trade war will be declared and Americans denied the right directly to deal with Britain.
 ] The attitude of England, in the con- struction of the American Congress. Is that American firms which do not ex- clusively sell their goods to the allies. shall not sell them at all.
 FREEDOM OF SEAS
 President Wilson has gone repeatedly on record as standing immovably for the f ha ment that Americans must be unmolested in travelling anywhere or in trading, in accordance with international law, with any country.
 Germany, as is known attempted to, make travel on the high seas unsafe for Americans. The President immediately "called the hand" of the Kaiser, and in 1 order that an American, even if an ir-
 rational American, might proceed wher-
 ever he desired in perfect safety, the
 President forced Germany to abandon it's
 method of submarine warfare With which 1 it had played and was playing havoc 1 with the commerce of it's enemies. ! In matters of trade, however, Presi-
 dent Wilson has been exceedingly patient | in attempting to persuade Great Britain to abandon it's unneutral policy. The English blockade has been perpetual menace to the continued peace of this nation. The English insistence on it's al- | legged right of search and seizure of | American vessels has been source of | constant irritation. Isolated cases of in- | dignity done to American citizens of all sexes travelling aboard vessels flying
 the Stars and Stripes. have repeatedly
 incensed the American public.
 But through it all, the President has
 remained in a state of unprecedented patience. He has sternly demanded of Germany that it properly conduct itself. | irrespective of abnormal conditions. But England has, up to the present time,
 been permitted to follow any course. ap-
 parently, it desired to follow.
 STEP TOO BROAD
 But it begins to appear that even Eng
 land has overshot the mark.
 The firms which it has blacklsted ad-
 nit in testimony furnished the state de- partment, that they have dealt-not only
 with Germany. but with England-have
 sold to those countries the same articles of commerce. The heads of these firms. | practically without exception have fur
 nished proof to the department that they i are and for years have been American l citizens, and as such entitled, by inter- national law, to deal in neutral manner either with belligerents or with other 1 neutrals.
 l As result the Washington govern (Continued on Page Nine)