Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-17
ENGLAND STANDS PAT
ON INTERFERING WITH
MAILS Of NEUTRALS
Joined by France, She Claims
That information in Letters
Is as Much Contraband as
Ammunition
by Associated Press.l

/ e5oAAASe AASCA Win ASNSA Ga AAA'~AAi
made public tonight by the state de-
partment, tho allied governments re-
| iterate their right to intercept and
search all genuine mail found on nau-
trail vessels on the high seas or in al
lied ports, but they promise TO rem
| edy amy faults, abuses or serious mis-
! takes" in censorship that may be
brought to their attention. They de-
clare unjustified by facts the American
! charge that Illegal jurisdiction has been
! gained by diversion of neutral ships
! from the high seas into the territorial
waters of the allies. The next move Of
! the American government has not been
! determined
The note, transmitted jointly by the
British and French governments, was
! delivered to the state department by
! the embassies last Thursday, but was
! not made public until tonight by agree
| ment of the governments concerned. II
makes reply to Secretary Lansing s
memorandum of May "a, in which the
! United States declared the allies had
/ been guilty of 'lawless practices in
! their mail censorship methods and that
| "only a radical change, restoring to the
United States it's full rights as a neu-
| trail power, will satisfy this govern
ment."
| 1t is maintained by the allies in their
| latest note that they are sincerely
| endeavoring to avoid any encroachment
on the legitimate exercise of the rights
of inoffensive neutral commerce" De-
lays and annoyances are unavoidable.
it Is pointed out, in the exercise of full
belligerent rights by the allied authori-
ties, and long list of presidents are
cited TO support the validity of the al
lied censorship methods. 1t is suggest
ed that The Hague convention quoted in
the American memorandum is not bind
ing because it has not been ratified by
several belligerent powers, though the
allied policy has been guided by the
intentions it expresses.
In an informal memorandum submit
ted some time ago, Great Britain point
ed out at length the changes made in
censorship methods to expedite mall
examination. These changes are only
referred to briefly in the present COM
munication.
The note is nearly 5000 words in
length. 1t argues that the United
States and the allies agree that the
postal union convention does not APP
ply and that postal packages may be
examined to see if they contain contra
band. That being so, the note con-
tends, it is necessary to open postal
bags and examination cannot take place
at sea without delay and Inconvenience.
Arrangements have now been made to
carry on the examination with the -enst
possible delay and to forward innocent
articles to their destination
Although the Hague convention or 1907
has not been accepted by some OF the
belligerents, the note says the allies are
prepared to accept the principle in the
preamble as to guarantees due to peace
full commerce and. legitimate business"
l.zs-. r1NN to
vent the fraudulent use by the enemy of
neutral mails for belligerent purposes.
The case of the "Atalanta" is cited to
show that information can be as useful
a means of war as ammunition, and the
note says information as to military OPP
erations and enemy plots in neutral
countries especially the United States,
has been discovered in this way
An examination of precedents is held
to show that the great powers have
claimed the right to intercept enemy
correspondence in neutral mails. Pres
ident Lincoln's proclamation of May
L. 1862, which declared things and in
formation as equally contraband of war
is cited, as also the fact that intercepted
enemy correspondence was used in the
United States courts during the Civil
war and laid before congress.
The contention of the United States.
the note ueSs IIOHey OTueE llSIS
should be classed as genuine mail and
not as merchandise does not take into
consideration that such lists sent from
the United States to Germany and Aus
tria by mail correspond to money de-
posted in this country and serve as
a notification to postal authorities of the
Teutonic powers to pay out the amounts
indicated. increasing he financial resist
ance of the allies enemies. In view of
this, money order lists are refused pas
sage.
In connection with the reminder that
the United States already has agreed
that examination of private postal cor
respondence to ascertain whether it con-
tains contraband is permissible, the note
says:
cit is evident that this examination,
which necessarily entails the opening of
the covers in order to ascertain their
contents, could not be carried out on
board without involving a great deal of
confusion, without causing serious delay
to the mails, passengers and cargo, and
without great risk of error, loss or non
delivery. 1t was for these reasons that
the allies have initiated the removal Of
the mail bags and their dispatch to
points provided with the staff and ma
terial requisite for prompt and regular
handling. In all this the allied gov
nave OInef purpose but
that of diminishing by all means in their
power the inconvenience that the legit-
imate-exercise Of their belligerent rights
in rgard to enemy mail might cause to
inoffensive neutral correspondence and
to neutral vessels"
After asserting that the United States
and the allies are in agreement on prin-
ciples but differ as to their application
the note in reply to Secretary Lansing's
declaration that the allies compel neu-
trail ships without just cause to enter
their own ports, hus acquiring by force
unjustifiable means and illegal jurisdic-
ton" says:
THE allied governments have never
Differentiated between their treatment
of mails on board Seutral vessel on
the high seas and those on board a neu-
trail vessel compulsorily diverted to an
allied port. They have always recog-
nized that visit carried out in a port
to which vessel has been compulsorily
diverted must in this respect be aSsimi-
lated to visit on the high seas, and the
criticism put forward by the United
States government does not. therefore.
appear to them to be justified"
Defending the practice Of exercising
jurisdiction and the right Of search over
a merchant vessel calling of it's own &C
cord at an allied port, the note says:
When a neutral merchant vessel en-
ters an allied port II is legitimate for
the authorities pF ba