South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-27

in the Spanish-American war, by
Great Britain in the South African
war and by the belligerents in the
RussO-Japanese war. The note con-
tinues:
And even in the present war. as
the memorandum Of Great Britain
and France states, their enemy, Ger
many, has desisted from the practice
OF interfering with neutral mails.
even on board belligerent steamers
1t would seem, therefore, TO be con-
elusively established that the inter-
fCrences with mails Of which this
government justly complains are
wrong in principle and in practice.
Important Papers Lost
The arbitrary methods employed
by the British and French govern
ments have resulted most disaster
ously TO citizens of the United
States. Important papers which can
never be duplicated or can be du-
plicated only with great difficulty,
have been lost. Delays in receiving
such documents have caused great
loss and inconvenience by prevent
ing prompt delivery of goods. Bust
ness opportunities are lost by failure
10 transmit promptly bids. specifica-
tons and contracts. Checks, drafts,
money orders, securities and similar
property are lost or detained for
weeks and months. Business corre-
srOndence relating to legitimate and
bona fide trade between neutral
countries, correspondence of a per-
scnal nature. and also certain Off
cial correspondence, such as money
order lists and other matters for
warded by government departments
are detained, lost, or possibly de-
stroyed.
Not only are American CONNER
cial interests injured, but rights of
property are violated and the rules
OF international law and custom are
palpably disregarded can only
add that this continuing offense has
led to such losses to American citi-
zens and TO a possible responsibility
OF the United States to repair them.
that this government will be COM
claims for full reclamation upon the
attention of his majesty's govern
ment and that of the French re-
public.
Wrong Must stop.
The government of the United
States. in view of the improper
methods employed by the British
and French authorities in interrupt
ing mails passing between the Unit
ed states and other neutral cOun-
tries and between the United States
and the enemies of Great Britain
can no longer tolerate the wrongs
which citizens of the United States
have suffered and continue 10 suffer
through these methods. To sub
nit TO a lawless practice of this
character would open the door to
repeated violations of international
law, by the belligerent powers on
the ground of military necessity Of
which the violator would be the sole
judge. Manifestly a neutral nation
cannot permit its rights on the high
seas to be determined by belliger-
erts or the exercise of those rights
to be permitted or denied arbitrarily
by the government of a warning
nation. The rights of neutrals are
as sacred as the rights of belliger-
ents and must be as strictly OBJ
served.
The government Of the United
States. confident in the regard for
international law and the rights Of
neutrals. which the British and
French governments have so often
proclaimed and the disregard of
which they have urged so vigorously
against their enemies in the present
war. expects the present practice
o. the British and French author
tiles in the treatment Of mails from
or 10 the United States 10 cease and
belligerent rights. as exercised TO
conform TO the principle governing
the passage of mail matter and TO
the recognized practice of nations.
Only a radical change in the pres
ent British and French policy to
restore TO the United States it's full
rights as a neutral power will satisfy
this government"