Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-28
MAILS MUST HAVE
ALL RIGHTS AT SEA
United States Sends Plain Note to
Great Britain and France Con.
corning interruptions.
PRESENT PRACTICE ILLEGAL

corning interruptions,
PRESENT PRACTICE ILLEGAL
Washington, May n. The
United states, denouncing inter-
ference with neutral mails, has
notified Great Britain and France
that it can no longer tolerate the
wrongs which American citizens
have suffered and continue to suf-
fer through the "lawless practice"
those governments have INDUCED
in, and that only a radical change
in policy, restoring the United
States to its full rights as a neu-
trail power will be satisfactory.
This notification is given in the
latest American communication
TO the two governments, the text
OF which was made public by the
State department. tonight. The
time in which the change must be
effected is not specified, but the
United States expects prompt
action.
What Is Complained or.
Generous and vexatious," abuses
which have been perpetrated by the
British and French governments in
seizing and censoring neutral mails
are recited in the communication and
answers are made to the legal argu-
ments contained in the reply of the
entente governments 10 the first
American note on the subject. 1t is
vigorously set forth that not only have
American commercial interests been
injured, but that the rights OF property
have been violated an TIE rules OF in
ternational law and custom palpably
disregarded. Notice is served that the
United States soon will press claims
against the British and French gov
ernments for the losses which already
have been sustained.
Text OF Note.
The text OF the communication adj.
d. essed TO the British and French am
bassadors TO whom it was delivered
Wednesday, follows:
Department of State, Washington,
Nay "a, l9l6.-Excellenc.: have
the honor to acknowledge receipts OF
your excellency's note OF April 5, last,
transmitting memorandum dated
February IS, 1916 and communicated
in substance to the American ambas-
sador in London on February 20, in
which are stated the contentious OF
the British and French governments
in regard TO the right TO detain and
examine parcel and letter mails en-
route by sea between the United
States and Europe.
After a discussion OF the use OF the
mails for transmission OF parcels and
Of the limitations to be placed on
"Inyiolable mail" the joint memo
randum OF February IS closes with the
following assertions:
/. That from the standpoint OF the
right OF visitation and eventual arrest
and seizure, merchandise shipped in
post parcels needs not and shall not
be treated otherwise than merchandise
shipped in any other manner.
2. That the inviolability Of postal
correspondence stipulated by the elev-
enth convention OF The Hague OF
1907 does not in any way affect the
right OF the allied governments to
visit, and if occasion arises, arrest
and seize merchandise hidden in the
wrappers, envelopes or letters con-
tanned in the mail bags.
g. That true TO their engagements
and respectful OF genuine GORE
spondence' the allied governments
will continue for the present to re-
frain on the high seas from Selling
and confiscating such correspondence,
letters or dispatches, and will insure
their speedicst possible transmission
as soon as the sincerity of their char
acter shall have been ascertained.
Interference Unwarranted.
In reply, the government Of the
United States desires to state that II
does not co. slider that the Postal
Union convention of 1906 necessarily
applies 10 the interference by the
British and French governments with
the oversee transportation OF mails
OF which the government OF the
United States is complaining Fur
thermore the allied powers appear to
have overlooked the admission OF the
government OF the United States that
post parcels may be treated as mer-
ehaudise subject to the exercise OF
belligerent rights as recognized by in
ternatonal law. But the government
az the United States does not admit
that such parcels are subject to the
exercise Of the rights OF police super
vision, visitation and eventual seiz-
ure which belongs to helligerents as
10 all carRoes on the high seas as
asserted IN the Joint note under ae-
acknowledgement
What May Be Searched.
n Is noted with satisfaction that
the British and French governments
do mot claim, and IN the opinion 81
this government properly do not
claim that their so-ealled blockade
measures are sufficient grounds upon
which % base right 90 interfere
with al classes oi mail matter IN
transit ta aud from the central pow
ffs ON the contrary, their contention
appears to be that "as genuine COZ.
fespouitner" Is under conventional
stipulation eluviolahle. mail matter oi
other classes it subject 90 drtentlan
and examination While lhe govern
ml "a fht United states agrees that
genuine correspondence matt "a lH-
t.uahIr L does nnt admit ,hat heiH
FeHlt HaF search elbsf private sfa.
NfHf mH.a Vow aHE nihfN paEpeAf