New-York tribune., 1916-02-18
Want Neutrals to Unite
Against British Ban
on Mails.
CAPITAL SUSPECTS
HELP TO TEUTONS
,,s;rO Declines Definite Reply
Likely to Continue Iude-
pendent Policy.
INN n. rrtsuns nuresu. J

u.sbinrton, Feb. l7.-Sweden mas
rs5 her entreaties that the United
s,stes call a conference Of neutral pow
=. 20 protest OF take other action
..,,srning Great Britain's interference
eI.S rsutrsl trade Secretary Lansing
s.,un.d to give Minister Ekengren q
definite reply.
Sec,etsry Lansing intimated, how
.,,- that this government would not de-
a.. from the policy it has pursued
..-orcbout the war Of acting inde-
.s,ssptlv toward all the belligerents
"a Of refusing to participate in any
Joint action.
II Is understood here that the Ad-
-,,,.,rstion is suspicious of Sweden's
l,apings, and fears being drawn into un-
central declarations if It undertakes
:, ,o5perate with the Swedish govern
-srt Information in the possession Of
80. government indicates that Swedish
oHeisls in this country are assisting
German oflcials in avoiding the British
rsa and cable censorship.
his latest communication, addressed
a Secretary Lansing and signed by Mr..
rksagrer. was presented recently, after
proposal had been advanced and dis
erssed from time TO time, but until
today the fact did not become known.
Following Is the text of the note:
81 have been instructed by his eX-
eellency. the Minister for Foreign AT.
fairs al Stockholm, TO address the fol-
loving 20 your excellency:
"The royal government has. during
the present war. from time to time pro-
posei 20 your excellency that through
cooperation II be sought to maintain
and preserve certain important rules Of
International law which concern pro-
lection OF neutral commerce and navi-
gstion and which are being violated
by Great Britain.
Neutral Protests Ignored.
"The violation Of existing rules Of
International law has, regardless Of
protests. increased until at present only
few rules serving as protection TO
veutral intercourse, are observed by
Great Britain. and II Is feared that
these remaining few will be violated.
His majesty's government, which is
deeply conscious of its responsibility
70 not omit any measure, tending to
wevent such an eventuality, and well
svare Of the danger for the future If
these rules. which are Of infinite worth
70 civilization as d whole, are not pre-
served. desires 10 herewith mako a re-
rewei presentation 10 your eXcellency
% this respect.
"Ot late the British authorities have
r,lated the mail traffic. Parcel post
hvm one neutral country 20 another is
being urloaded in British ports and ne
contents are being seized. While par
eel post is not protected through the
Hague postal convention, il neverthe-
less seems 20 his majesty's government
that the British procedure, in the form
and eXtensiveness practised, would be
Invalid even with regard 10 ordinary
express goods, and that this seems par
tleulsrly evident when the seizure Of
parcel post is directed against q means
o. conveyance under guarantee Of SOW
sreign powers. Besides, great personal
inconvenience is connected with seizure
Of this kind
Condemns Violation of Mails.
However, England's present practice
Of censoring also first class mail sent
BY neutral vessels from one nrutr ID
country 90 another is an even greater
violation o. the rights accorded neutral
powers by the rules of international
law. u is not necessary to par cular-
y point out how contrary this practice
IS 10 the stipulations in the above men
toned Hague convention, which s.ip4-
lsilons or rules must be considered to
have been IN existence even before the
promulgation Of this convention.
The royal government now therefore
appeals TO the government Of the
United States for cooperation for the
purpose Of seeking 70 bring about q dis
continuance OF the violations of inter-
national law. at least so far as the
same concerns first class mail, ana It
SoAclts as early an answer as possible
whether your excellency is willing 10
tske appropriate action in cooperation
with the royal government. and. event
ually, the governments Of other neutral
Countries, for the purpose of causing
ma, the rule which the question in
'olyed land which is one OF the funda-
mental stipulations Of international law
be observed"
The recent seizure by British and
French naval commanders Of American
securities en- route 70 New York bank
ers from neutral countries in Europe
vii be made the subject Of further rep
Issentations 20 Great Britain and
Rance By the United States The rep
iesentatiors will supplement those al
ready made in connection with the de-
,enuon of American mails, which so far
ts' elected only preliminary and In
eoInlctc ronlv