Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-15


couched in conciliatory terms and re-
peatedly denies the intention of im7
posing penalties upon neutral individ-
uals or neutral commerce, 1T adheres
strictly and immovably to the position
already taken by the British Govern,
ment with regard to trade prohibit
tions. Its protest that there is no in
tention of the British Government to
utilize these restrictions or imposi-
tions for the furtherance of British
trade is also several times repeated
in the face of the obvious fact that
the impositions are bound to effect
that result. 1t is declared that the
policy is designed to shorten the war.
Further Negotiations Probable
| The note fails to meet the Ameri-
can demand that the names of Ameri-
can firms be stricken from the black
| list, but attempts to convince the
State Department that the British po-
sition is just and founded on law. 1t
leaves open the door for further ne
gotiations, which is expected to fol-
low.
A part which attracted much Of
| fetal notice dealt with the subject
| of peace, based on the theory that
one American contention had been
that there exists no military necessity
for the blacklist, that it is unneces-
sary for the Allies to prejudice neu-
tral commerce and that nothing
which happens in distant neutral
countries can influence the result of
the great conflict.
''If that really were the position"
says the note, lit is possible that the
measures taken by His Majesty's gov
ernment might be described as un-
called for, but it is not. We may
well wish that it were so. Even
though the military situation of the
Allies has greatly improved, there is
still long and bitter struggle in
front of them, and one which in JUS
tice to the principles of which they
are fighting imposes upon them the
duty of employing every opportun-
ity and every measure which they
can legitimately use to overcome their
opponents.
zone observation which is very
commonly heard is that certain bell
igerent acts, even though lawful, are
too petty to have any influence in u
struggle of such magnitude. 1t is, l
know, difficult for those who have
no immediate contact with war to
realize with what painful anxiety men
and women in this country must re-
gard even the smallest acts which tend
to increase. if only by hairs
breadth. the danger in which their
to prolong, If only by a minute, the
period during which they are to be
exposed to neutral pcrils.
Whatever inconvenience may be
caused by neutral nations by the ex-
ercise of belligerent rights, it is not
to be compared for an instant to the
suffering and loss occasioned to man.
kind by the prolongation of the war
even for week."
The note of the British Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs begins
with a reference to the note COM
municated by Ambassador Page on
July 2S last, respecting the addition
of certain firms in the United States
to the statutory list compiled and is
sued in accordance with 1.-THE trading
with the enemy act, 1915
This act, it is repeated, was ex-
planned last January as piece of
purely municipal legislation, and
provides that His Majesty may by
proclamation prohibit persons in the
United Kingdom from trading with
any persons in foreign countries who
might be specified in such proclama-
tions or in any subsequent ORDERS"
The object of the act, it is further
explained, is simply to enjoin those
who owe allegiance to Great Britain
to cease having trade relations with
persons who are found to be assist
ing or rendering service to the enemy.