Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-11-15
BRITAIN DENIES
CHARGES BY U. S.
Blacklist Reply Made Public by
State Department.
MADE TO SHORTEN THE WAR
Defines Measure as Regulation Con-
corning Only Enaland-Denies
Rights Of Traders Have Been
RuthlessIy Cancelled.

RuthlessIy Cancelled.
Washington, Nov. 15.--The British
reply to the latest American note pro-
testing against the trade blacklist,
made public by the state department,
denies that rights Of neutral traders
under international law have been
ruthlessly cancelled, defines the black
list measure as municipal regulation
plainly concerning only the British
government and British citizens, con-
tends that 1t is designed to shorten the
war and scorns the suspicion that Brit
ain is using the war as means to take
away neutrals' trade.
The note fails to meet the Ameri-
can demand that the names of Ameri-
can firms be stricken from the black
list, but attempts to convince the state
department that the British position
is just and founded on law. 1t leaves
open the door for further negotiation,
which is expected to follow:
Predicts Long Struggle.
A part which attracted much OIL
cial notice dealt with the subject Of
peace, based on the theory that one
American contention had been that
there exists no military necessity for
tho blacklist that nothing which hap
pens in distant neutral countries can
influence the result of the great con-
fict.
s'If that really were the position"
says the note, sit is possible that the
measures taken by his ma1esty's gov
eminent might be described as I'M
called for, but 1t is not. We may
well wish that it were so. Even though
the military situation Of the allies has
greatly improved, there is still long
and bitter struggle in front OF them
and one which in justice to the princi-
pies for which they are fighting Inn
poses upon them the duty of employing
every opportunity and every measure
which they can lesitimately use to
overcome their opponents.
German Activity in v. s.
" "Whateyer inconvenience may be
caused to neutral nations by the ex-
ercise of belligerent rights it is not to
be compared for an instant to the sur
fering and loss occasiOned to mankind
by the prolongation of the war even
for week.
In its argument the note points our
that German business houses through
out the world have furthered the
cause Of Germany In the war, adding !:
.sIn some cases they have even been
used as bases Of supply for German
cruisers, and in other cases organic
ers and paymasters Of miscreants em-
ployed to destroy; by foul means fac
tories engaged in maj ig or ships en-
gagged in carrying supplies required by
the allies.
..Such operations have been carried
out In the territory even Of the Unit
ed States itself, and I am bound to
observe what / do not think will be
denied that no adequate action has
yet been taken by the government
Of. s$ile United States to suppress
breaches of neutrality Of this particu-
larly criminal kind, which know they
are the first to discountenance and de-
plore."
British Policy Altered.
The note apparently admits Britain
has altered the position previously
held with the United States, that domi-
cile and not nationality is. the test Of
enemy character, and argues that. in
this war nationals or belligerents dom
iciled far from home may render great
aid and comfort, admitting that these
are sought to be reached by the black
list measure.
Attention is called to instructions to
British merchants, issued by Lord Rus
sell in 1862 regarding trade with the
Bahamas during the Civil war, advis-
Ing that the .true remedy" was to re-
frain from this trade.
Depiores Suspicious.
s'His majesty's government does not
ask the government Of the United
States to take any such action as
this !. the note concludes, "but it
canitot believe that the United States
government will question its right
to 10y upon British merchants, in the
interests Of the safety Of the British
empire, for which they are response
BILE: the same prohibitions as Lord
Russell issued so years ago out Of con-
sideration for the interests and feel
ings Of foreign nation. Suspicious
and insinuations which would con-
strue so simple an action as an open
ing for secret and unavowed designs
on neutral rights should have no place
in the relations between two friendly
countries"
laln AlDr Or Al AnnE0lN m