Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-26
COMMISSION
To INVESTIGATE
ALL CHARGES
France Concurs in Long Note on
Commercial Aspects of
War.
EXPLAINS ACTS AS
MILITARY EXPED1ENCY
Welcome Combination of Neut.
rails to Prevent Violation of
Rights.

Washington, April 25.-The latest
British note in answer to the Ameri.
can protest against allied interfer,
ences with neutral trade made public
at the state department contends that
the practices complained of are 'ju-
dicaly sound and valid" and that
the relief which neutrals seek is
rather to be obtained by the mitiga-
tion Of necessary hardships than by
abrupt changes" either in the the
ory or application Of a policy based
upon admitted principles of interna-
tional law carefully adjusted to the
altered conditions OF modern warfare.
Appoint Commission.
1t discloses that ''an impartial and
influential commission" has been ap-
pointed to find ways to minimize de-
lays and pledges the Allies to make
their restraints on trade AS little bur-
,densome to neutrals as possible.
The note in which the French gov
crnment cbncurs, reiterates the mill.
tary necessity of regulating COM
merce to neutrals contiguous to Ger
many and justifies the effectiveness
of the blockade which was challeng-
ed by the last American note.
More diplomatic correspondence
over the issue is expected to follow.
The unanimity of sentiment among
the worlds neutrals for the protec-
tion OF neutral rights is recognized in
The British note, which refers to the
subject in terms not embracing the
rights of trade alone
Sincere Satisfaction.
1t says in conclusions:
His Majesty's government has not.
ed with sincere satisfaction the init
nation contained in the concluding
passages of the United States note of
the intention of the United States to
undertake the task of champiOning
the integrity Of neutral rights.
"The first act Of this war was the
nnprovoked invasion by the enemy
of neutral territory which he was
solemnly pledged by treaty to pro
tect The disregard of neu-
tral rights has since been extended
to naval warfare by the wanton de-
struction of neutral merchant ships
on the high seas, regardless of the
lives of those on board. His
Majesty's government would welcome
any combination of neutral nations
under the lead of the United States,
which would exert an effective infll-
ence to prevent the violations Of neu.
tral rights and they cannot believe
that they or their allies have much
to fear from any combination for the
protection of those rights which take
an impartial and comprehensive view
of the conduct of this war and judges
it by a reasonable Interpretation OF
the generally accepted provisions OF
international law and by the rules
of humanity that have hitherto been
approved by the civilized world"
American Complaint.
AT the outset the note suggests that
the American complaint is not SO
much that shipments intercepted re.
ally were intended for use in the
European neutral countries to which
they were dispatched as that the dis.
patch of goods to Great Britain's enc
mics had been frustrated by methods
not hitherto employed by belliger.
ents.
at would seem," says the note, Ito
be fair reply to such a contention
that new devices for dispatching
goods to the enemy must be met by
new methods of applying the funda
mental and accepted principles to in
tercept such trade
Searches at Sea.
At some length the note argues the
impossibility of making searches at
sea, for various reasons, among which
are: Weather, the size of modern
steamships and the manner of con
cealing the contrabands.
The note adds as further reason
for bringing ships into harbor is the
necessity for close examination of all
Continued on Page Three)
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