Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-15
MEASURE DESIGNED
TO SHORTEN WAR
British Government Defends Po-
sition on Black List as Just
and Founded on Law.
REPLIES TO U. S. PROTEST
Leaves Open the Door for Fur
ther Negotiation, Which Is
Expected to Follow.
REPLIES TO U. S. PROTEST

BS Associated Press.
NASlilNGTDN. November li-Thc
Hritish reply 10 tho latest American
note protesting against the trade bla acl,
list. made public ,o-nish, by The state
Department. denies tina, rights Of ucu-
tral traders under International law
have been ruthlessly cancelled defines
the blacklist measure as a mlmicipal
regulation, plainly concerning only the
british government and British cit
izens, and contends that t, is designed
to shorten the war
The note fails to meet the Amcri-
can demand that the names OF Amcri-
can firms be stricken from the black
ist, but attempts 10 convince the state
Department that the british rosition
is just and founded on law 1t leaves
open the door for further negotiation
which is expected to follow
The note was subscribed hy Niscount
Grey. the British Foreign Minister. and
was addressed to and transmitted by
Walter Hines Page. the American ann
hassador at London
y part which attracted much official
notice dealt with tho subject Of peace.
based on the theory that one Ameri-
can contention had been ;hat there
exists no military necessity for the
black list: that il is Unnecessary for
the allies TO prejudice neutral COM
incrce. and that nothing which happens
in distant neutral countries can in1u-
encc the result Of the great conflict.
LONG AND BITTER
STRUGGLE LIES AHEAD
IF that really were the position"
the note says. "it is possible that the
measures taken by His MaicSty's gov
ernment might bc described as uncallod
for. but i, is not. We may well wish
that il were SO. Even though the
military situation Of tho allies has
greatly improved there Is still a long
and bitter struggle In front Of them
and one which. in justice TO the pr!u-
cples for which they are fighting. inn
poses upon them tho duty Of employ
ing every opportunity and every meas
ure which they can legitimately use
TO overcome their opponents
S)nc observation which is very com
monty heard is that certain helligcrcnt
acts. even though lawful. arc too petty
10 have any influence in struggle OF
such magnitude. IT is. I know. dihicult
for those who have no immediate con-
tact with war to realize with what
painful anxiety men and women i'm
this country must regard even the
smallest acts which tend 10 increase
If only by hairs breadth. the danger
In which their relatives and friends
daily stand or 10 prolong. if only by
a minute. the period during which they
are 10 lie exposed TO such perils.
Whatever Inconvenience may be
caused 10 neutral nations hy tho ever
IA
compared for an instant with tho suf-
ferinc and loss occasioned To mankind
by the prolongation of the war even
for week.
In its argument the note points out
that German business houses through
ont the world have furthcr.d the cause
OF Germany in the war. and nave been
active agents for tho disScmina tion
al German political and social influence
and for the purposes uf espionage"
USED As BASES OF SUPPLY
For GERMAN CRUISERS
In Somc cases, continues tho note
they have even been used as bases
of supply for German cruisers, and in
other cases organizers and paymastcrs
OF miscreanis employed /" destroy by
fcul means factories engaged in maxi
ing. or ships engaged in carrying sun
plies required by the allies. Such
operations have been carried ont in
tho territory even Of the United States
and am bound L. observe what | do
not think viii lac denied. that no
adequatr action yet has been taken by
the government of tn" United States
10 suppress breaches Of neutrality of
this particular criminal kind which |
know that thcy ar" tho first to dis
countenancc and dcplorc.
In tho face OF enemy activities Of
this nature. il WAS essential for Ills
Majcsty's government To take stcps
that should at least deprive interests
SO strongly hostile Of tho facilities and
advantages OF unrestricted trading
with British subjects. The public
opinion Of this country would not have
tolerated the prolongation Of tho war
by tn" continued liberty of British
subjects To trade with and SO enrich
the firms in foreign countries whose
wealth and influence were alike at the
services OF tho enemy"
The note is based largely on tho
continued on Second PagcD
L ~