Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-27
WHAT NEUTRALs WAY EXPECT
England Cannot Abandon Her
Rights of Interference with
Enemy Trade Without Con-
siderable Inconvenience to
acknowledgements Trade.

London, Jan. 26.--The opening phrases
of the speeches Of Sir Edward Grey, for
een secretary, in the House of Commons
and of the Marquis Of l.ansdowne. minis
ter without portfolio. in the House of
Lords. to-day gave the impression that the
British government is not likely to resort
to an absolute blockade Of Germany.
Foreign Secretary Grey opened his
speech by saying it was a difficult and
complicated subject which the House had
under consideration He had gathered
from the debate that there was real mis-
apprehenson concerning the amount Of
trade passing into Germany and regarding
what his government was doing to stop
that trade.
Sir Edward said that as matter Of
fact the government was doing what
tho supporters of the blockade policy de-
mandcd.
We cannot do more than we are al
ready DOING he said.
We are applying the doctrine or
continuous voyage" Sir Edward said
1--WE quite agree that we want com
mon action with our allies and that is
what we had with France when the
order in council was issued.
we are going to answer the Iast
United States note but in the FIRST m
stance in consultation with the French
government. That consultation Is now
taking place and consultations with
other allies who are concerned in the
carrying out ~ our policy may follow.
with regard to neutrals the gov
ernmcnt is perfectly ready to exam
inc any other method of carrying out
our declared policy of stopping enemy
trade than the one now adopted. which
might be more convenient ana more
agreeable in practice, SO long as IT
was effective"
Il would say to neutr2ls that We can
not abandon our rights Of interference
with enemy trade and cannot exercise
that right without considerable incon-
venience to their trade. They must an
swer the one main question:
do they admit our right to apply to
the full the principles applied by the
American government in the Civil War
according to the order Of conditions and
to do our best TO prevent trade reaching
the enemy through neutIals?
IF they answer Yes as they are
let them do their best to make it easy
for us To distinguish.
'Tf they answer that we are not entitled
to prevent trade with the enemy, and il
the neutral countries take that line. it
would he a departure from neutrality
do not understand that they will take
that line. 1t is quite true there were
things in the last American note which
If conceded would have rendered It i'm
possible for Great Britain to prevent
goods, even contraband. going whoesa ,e
to the enemy. hut don't understand that
that is the attitude of the United States
or any other government"
Sr Edward Grey in scathing terms con.
trastcd Gcrmany's attitude to neutral.
with tho British attitude. ana said:
"If ever there was a war in which We
and our allies could employ recognized
helligerent rights to their utmost cxtcn
| II was this war. What would have beer
said by ncutrals II We had done wha
| Germany has done?"
The foreign secretary cmphas sized agar
what WAS the aim of tho allies and con
cluded by declaring:
I'VE shall sec this thing through to tn,
end"
London, Jan 2G.-The result ~ tn,
anXiously awaited debate I'm the Hous,
| Of Commons on the blockade question
is that the British government adhere,
to its existing policy.
a resolution introduced by Arthu,
| Shirley Benn, l'nionist member OF Fly
| mouth, that tho entire over ocean,
| traffic with Germany should be pre-
vented by a blockade. was talked on
and the subject dropped, thus loavin,
the position exactly as before the de
| bate, except that Parliament SCENE,
more converted to the government
policy
| Interesting facts published by tn
war department partly demolished tn
| elaborate structure raised by tho news
papers and Sir Edward Grey's cffoctiv
speech appeared to finish the worl
thus hogan.
After the foreign secretary had spoke
Commander Rclairs said he had ant
cipated that ninc-tcnths OF the TIous
would he against Sir Edward Grey, bu
since his speech he had to admit nn'
tcnths were with him. In fact after tn
foreign secretary sat down the lious
gradually empticd and at one time dun
ing the debate only a half a dozen men
bers were present
| At the opening of the debate tn
House was crowded, all the bushes
section being very conspicuous and III
galleries also were filled, notable Wis
tors being tho American ambassador. IL
Swedish ana Danish ministers, I,or
Fisher and Lord Stamfordham. privaI
secl etarN to the King.
. PASSES THIRD READING.