Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-04-14
Britain'S Trading
With Enemy Act
IN REPLY TO AMER
IcAN NOTE OF PROTEST
IS PURELY DOMESTIC
Assures United States That In Its
enforcement Care Will be Taken to
Avoid Injury to Neutral Commerce.

washington, April IL. - Great
Britain's reply to the American note
protesting against the trading with
the enemy act as pregnant with pos
sibilities of undue influence with
American trade" describes the act as
purely domestic legislation to re-
strict the activities and trade of per-
sons under British jurisdiction ano
enforcement every care will be exer-
cised to avoid injury to neutral COM
merce.
To Prevent Trading With Enemies.
The act, approved last December, is
designed to prevent British subjects
from trading with any business firm
which has business connections with
or is controlled in any part by Great
BritaiH's enemies.
In its protest, presented to the
British foreign office January 26 by
Ambassador Page, the United States
expressed the opinion that the regu-
laticns had been framed without a
proper regard for the right of persons
domiciled in the United States t6
carry on trade with persons In bel
! ligerent countries" and made a form
! ri reservation of the right to contest
| its LEGALITY should it he found that
American trade was hampered-
Text of British Reply.
The text of the British reply in the
| form of n foreign office memorandum
| to Ambassa dor Page, dated February
| 16. and made public by the sra,e de-
| partment tonight, follows:
| 81 have the honor to acknowledge
| the receipt of Your Fxcellency's note
| Of the Goth ultimo relative to the pos
| siblc effects Of the trading with the
! enemy CeZtension of pOwers) act OF
1915, on United States commerce.
Framed to Harmonize With French.
"The act was framed with the OBJ
iect OF bringing British trading-with-
the-enemy regulations into Erearel
harmony with those adopted by the
| French government since tho come
mencment of the war by applying ir
some degree the test Of nationality In
the determination OF enemy character
in addition to the old test Of dorni.
cile. which experience has showr
cannot provide a sufficient basis un.
der modern commercial conditions fol
| measures intended TO deprive the en-.
emv Of all assistance, direct or rndi,
rect from national resources.
His Maiesty's government realiZ.
ed, however. that the application o.
this principle 20 its fullest extent
while entirely legitimate and in ac
| cordance with the practice of otheI
| countries. might, II applied at th'
present time to commercial activities
rs widespread rs those of British sub
, 'ects. involve inconvenience and los
; 20 innocent traders.
To withhold British Ai5.
'"They were careful. therefore. II
davisin" the necessary LEGISLATION. no
/; only TO avoid any definition whi~l
would imn0se enernv s-"+Us uDon ~
rorsons Of eremv nationality and a.
) -0cia+iOnS: but also to ta'vo powers Q
, discrimination which would erobl
them to apDlv nure'v commercial re
: Tt~ic-ions contemplated only in reCar
70 these persons F-0rn whom Il wa
= necessary in R-itfsH interests 70 with
: hold tho facilities afforded by Britis
D resources.
Rights of BeIIige-ents.
His Nfaiostv's government hav
therefore ahstained from course n
action adnitting1v within their RIGHT
as beTligercuts which is not on'v tn
: existinb practice Of the Fr-Onc
Government hut in strict acc0-danc
: with the doctrine openly avored b
| many other states 70 he the basis M
| on which their trading with tho enc
= | nv regulations would be founded /
e the event of war and have confine
t them selves to passing n piece of pure
= u domestic LEGISLATION er1nowerin
$ them to restrict the activities an
t trade of persons under British iuris
= dictior in such n manner ard to sue
on extent as may seem TO them 10 {
d necessary in the national interest.
= Rights of American Citizens.
: His Nafestv's government readil
9 admits the right of persons of an
e nationality resident in the Unite
= States to engage in legitimate con
IS mercial transactions with any otht
# persons. They cannot admit. how
n over, that this right can in anv wa
= limit the right of other government
10 to restrict the commercial activiti'
J. of their national in any manner whiC
It may seem desirable tothem by the In
= position of provisions and penaitit
- which are operative solely upon PEI
sr sons under their Jurisdiction.
s In claiming this right which Al
d pears to them to be inherent in so7
/ ereignty and national independence
y His Maiesty's government desire
assure the United States that the
will exercise it with every possib
care to avoid injury TO neutral con
9 merce and they venture to think TIL
the voluntary Limitation of their pov
ers by the terms Of the trading Wi
the enemy (extension of powers) az
1915. is evidence of their desire az
intention to act with the greatest 20
N sible consideration for neutral int
I ests"