New-York tribune., 1916-07-25

of the Administration firm stand Is
received with shrugs of shoulders. As
in previous Crises" diplomats init
mate. the President will allow the
country to talk the issue TO death"
Difficulty in dealing with the black
list has been increased hy the fact that
all the Allies are standing as a unit
behind the British position. Although
the State Department refuses TO affirm
II, II has been discovered that France
and Italy as well as England also have
had blackiists in effect against Ameri-
can firms. No publication has ever,
been made of these lists. but IL is
known that they have been in opera
tion for several months.
Ever since the beginning of the war
France has held that French subjects,
no matter in what country they were
domiciled. could not trade with enemy
firms. The British regulation was not
so stringent, and prohibited trading
with enemy firms or their agents only
in the British Empire. In the Far East
for months after the declaration of war
merchants Of the two countries con-
tinued their relations.
The new blacklist, as London justifies
IL, is only an attempt TO square the
British position with what has been
Frances stand all along. No complaint
has been made against France, and
therefore the British believe none
should be made against Great Britain
Difference in Attitudes.
Between the positions of the two
governments. however, the State De-
partment draws great distinction,
Secretary Polk declared to-day. France
is fully within her rights in prohibit
ing her citizens TO trade with enemy
firms in the United States. but she has
not sought to 20 behind the corporate
entity of the firms, as the British are
attempting. Because German names
appear on the directorate or in the
stock list does not make it a German
firm.
British courts have held, it is pointed
out by a State Department official, that
the government could not go behind
the entity of the corporation. It's
nationality, they have declared. and as
the State Department now holds, is de-
termined solely by the place Of its
registry and not otherwise. Thus it is
contended that the present blacklist,
even based on British precedent, is
illegal.
The official text of the memorandum
on the mails reveals that Great Britain
feels Obliged to dsclaim response
bility" for the specific occurrences COM
planned of in the American notes un.ll
there has been opportunity Of investi-
eating in detail" 1t is pointed out
that "there have been many instances
of complaints which on ex-
animation proved to arise from the
wrong direction of letters, the irreg-
ular sailings of neutral mail boats,
and from other similar causes
entirely outside the control of his
majesty's government"
Questions of Principle.
Outlines Of the memorandum cabled
from London conform closely to the
official text. One Of the subjects LETT
for consideration in the Allies forth
coming final reply is the American com
plant regi riding money order lists,
which il is declared "involves question
of principle on which consultation be
tween those governments is still IN
progress"
mail removed from the steamship
Medan. some of which later was lost
on the Mecklenburg, the memorandum
says the facts set forth by the United
States "are corret, except that II is
not made clear, though it is the fact,
that the neutral mail bags removed
from the Medan were all sent on q.
and that 1S2 bags lost in the Mechen-
burg were without exception for enemy
destination"
The communication concludes that
the specific complaints in the Amer,
lean note "do not support the general
charges against the efficiency of the
British censorship which the govern
ment of the United States have put
forward"
Minister Van Rappard, of the Neither
lands, called at the State Department
to-day to inquire about published
report that the United States was con
templating using warships to convoy its
merchantmen across the Atlantic. Act
ing Secretary Polk told him the report
was wholly without foundation.
NEW SOUTH WALES WHEAT.
~. cov.b Uolas will have 70 000 000