The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-11-16
GREAT BRITAIN REFUSES
TO RAISE BLACKLIST
ON AMERICAN GOODS

washington, NOV. 14.-The British
z reply to the latest American note,
protesting against the trade black
+ list, made public tonight by the State
Department, denies that rights of
neutral traders under international
law have been ruthlessly cancelled,
defines the blacklist measure as a
municipal regulation plainly concern
ing only the British Government and
British citizens and contends that it
is designed to shorten the war.
The note failed to meet the Amer
lean demand that the names Of Amer
lean firms be stricken from the black
list, but attempts to convince the
State Department that the British
position is just and founded on law
1T leaves open the door for further
negotiations, which is expected to fol-
low.
The note was subscribed by Wis
count Grey, the British foreign min
lstcr, and was addressed to and
transmitted by Walter Hines Page,
the American ambassador at London.
A part which attracted much Off
clal 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 is necessary for
the Allies to prejudice neutral COM
merce and that nothing which hap
pens in distant neutral countries can
influence the result of the great con-
fict.
Long and Bitter Struggle"
"lf that really were the position !"
says the note, "it is possible that the
measures taken by his Majesty's Gov
ernment might be described as un-
called for, but it is not. We NAV
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 for which thew
are fighting imposes upon them the
duty Of employing every opportunity
and every measure which they can
legitimately use to overcome their op-
ponents.
zone observation which is very
commonly heard is that certain bel
Egerent acts, even though lawful, are
too petty to have any influence in a
struggle Of such magnitude. 1t is. T
know, difficult for those who have no
Immediate contact with war to rea-
lize 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
relatives and friends daily stand, or
to prolong, if only by minute, the
period during which they are to be
exposed to such perils.
"Whatever inconveniences NAV be
caused to neutral nations by the cx-
ercise of belligerent rights it is not
to be compared for an instant to the
suffering and loss occasoned to man
kind by the prolongation Of the war
even for week."
Furthered Germany's Cause.
In its argument the note points out
that German business houses
throughout the world have further
ell the cause OF Germany in the war,
and have been active agents "for the
dissemination of German political
and social influence and for the pur-
pose Of cspoinage."
"ln some cases." continued the
note, they have even been used as
bases Of supply for German cruisers,
and in other cases organizers and
!, paymaStcrS Of miscrcants employed
to destroy by foul means factories
engaged in making, on ships engaged
in carrying supplies required by the
Allies. Such operations have been
carried out in the territory even Of
the United States itself, and | am
bound to observe, what | do not
think will be denied, that no ade-
quate action has yet been taken by
the government Of the United States
to suppress breaches Of neutrality of
this particularly criminal kind, which
| know that they are the first to dis
countenancc and deplore.
"ln the face of enemy activities of
this nature it was essential for His
y Majesty's government to take steps
that should at least deprive interests
} SO strongly hostile of the facilities
r and ADVANTAGES of runrpctricted trad