The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-15
Attitude as to Complaint Seems
to Be I'VE re Wrong But
What Will You DoAbout it,
BRITAIN AND FRANCE
In DEBATABLE MOOD
Coercion Used to Bring Neutral
Ships Into Ports of Allied
Powers-Claim Right to In.
spect American Mail

Washington Oct 1.-THE reply OF
France and Great Britain to the
American demands respecting Anglo
French interference with Ameri An
malls on the high seas and the ur-
lawful diversion of mail ships into
British ports. is an undisguised re-
lection of all the State Departments
contentious.
The note was made pubic by the
State Department tonight The note
in effect admits the principle but de-
MES in practice. the immunity Of
mail which Is recognized In intcrnA-
tonal law. Great Britain and France
assert they have the right to Inspect
American mails while seeking both
contraband and enemy correspon-
dence.
The conflict arising between the
belligerent right to search for contra
band and the neutral right recognized
by the law Of nations in the tnviola-
bilfty OF letter mail is the heart Of
the controversy.
The reply combats every argument
Used by the State Department In its
attempt to maintain for tho United
States respect for this country's rights
on the high seas. In virtually admit
ting the right of the United States,
Great Britain declares 1t cannot be
enforced. The reply is a challenge
to this government, as it Is generally
regarded as being the final word or
the British and French governments
on the subject
Claim Right to Divert Mail.
The two allied governments claim
the right to divert neutral mail ships
from their courses and to take them
into allied ports for the purpose Of
inspecting. censoring or confiscating
mail matter. This claim the United
States has repeatedly denied, In the
instYnce of DETECTION OF ships with
cargoes as well as OF ships with
mails. 1t has been denounced as un-
warranted interference with Ameri-
can rights and as a complete denial
OF rights guaranteed by both the GUS
toms and the laws Of nations.
The American position is that Great
Britain has no right forcibly to take
neutral vessels into British ports ex-
cept with the permission OF the gov
eminent whose flag the ships fly.
Great Britain and France in their
note declare some vessels voluntarily
enter allied ports for examination OF
their mails, shippers of such ships be.
ing so directed by the owners.
The nete says:
Text OF Note Disputed Point.
On this first point. and as regards
SHIPS running on the nigh seas ana
compelled to make for an allied port,
the allied governments have the honor
to advise the government OF the United
States that they have never subjected
mails TO different treatment, accord
ing as they were found on neutral
vessels on the high seas or on neutral
vessels compelled to proceed to an al.
lied port. They have always acknowl-
edged that visits made in the port
after forced change of course must
in this respect be on the same foot
ing as a visit on the high seas and
the criticism formulated by the gov
eminent OF the United States does
not, therefore, seem warranted.
"As TO ships. which OF their own
accord call at allied ports, 1t Is right
Ito point out that in this case they
are really voluntarily making a CALI
In calling at an allied port the master
acts, not on any orders from the allied
authorities, but solely carries out the
instructions OF the owner; neither are
those instructions forced upon the
said owners. In consideration Of GER
tain advantages derived from the call
at an allied port. of which he is at
full liberty to enjoy or refuse the
benefits. the owner instructs his cap
tain to call at this or that port. He
srain."
Really Subjected to Coercion.
AS the matter is regarded here, the
vessels do not. in fact. voluntarily en-
ter British ports. Coercion Ia exer-
csed in the form of denial to such
ships as refuse voluntarily to enter
British ports of the right to coal at
British ports, to take out British
maritime insurance or to use British
cables or banking facilities
Owners of vessels. it was said by
authority. naturally would consider
the safer thing to submit to this form
of compulsion, retaining their coal
ing and other privileges. than to be
denied all. and at the same time have
their vessels forcibly conveyed into
British jurisdiction
Repudiates Hague Convention.
The note repudiates sthe validity
of the Hague convention. 1t says:
I'm regard to the value to be at.
tached to the eleventh hconvention
OF The Hague, 1907. 1t may first ~
all be observed that it only refers 10
mails found at sea and that II y en-
tirely foreign to postal correspondoncos
found on board ships In ports. In
the second place. from the Uens34-
point of the particular circums4nncoos
OF the present war. the g0vern1eu9s
Continued on sscond Pags1