Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-17
CECIL THINKS BLOCKADE
NE TH00 WILL Be BETTER
Declares England Does Not Want to
Interfere With Trade of
NeutralS.
BACK FROM PARIS CONFERENCE
Sir Maurice de BunZen Says Every
Effort Is Being Made by Gov
eminent to Facilitate Passage of
American Mails.

Especial Cable TO The Times Dispatch.
LONDON. June l6.-Blockade Minis
ter Sir Robert Cecil, who recently re-
turned from Paris. after a conference
with the French government, said to-
day that his visit was entirely salts
factory.
One of the things discussed" said
Sir Robert was the Declaration OF
London in its relation to the block
AIDE.
The understanding arrived at; he
said, will cause no change in the
method of blockade now in force. but
one result will be that it will be no
less open to any possible misconcep-
ton 20 neutrals.
1t removes sor"e of the legitimate
objections and makes our logical posi-
ton stronger"
Asked whether the blockade had be-
come more rigid. Sir Robert replied:
1t certainly will not become any more
slack but we believe it will work bet
ter. We are not really trying to in
terfere with ncutralS' trade except in
SO far as the enemy's trade is con-
ccrned."
SIT Robert explained that hitherto
criticism Of fair-minded people has not
been levelcd against the blockade itself
but against the method by which 1t has
been done.
The Paris conference. il is believed
VIII remove some Of the objections
Regarding the Declaration of London
Sir Robert pointed out that it is no
force whatever, as it was never ra,i-
ned. AT the beginning of the war
America asked the belligerents If they
were willing to adopt the declaration
AS whole. The reply was in the neg
ativc. So 1t is doubtful If il could be
adopted in fraImentary way with
notifications from time to time In
other words. international law is TO
be relied on more than the Deciara-
ton OF London.
UTMOST TO FACILITATE
PASSAGE OF L. :. MAILS
Referring to the American protest
against British seizure of mails, Sir
Maurice de Bunzen, formerly British
ambassador at Vienna, to-day issued
statement at the British Foreign Of
flee protesting that Britain is doing
her utmost to facilitate passage OF
American mail. The statement while
in no sense a reply to the American
note. sets forth the British official
view. and explains why the reply of
Britain and France cannot be expect
ed promptly. The statement says:
The British government is daily
perfecting the organization of its CEN
sorship, and IL is believed Americans
will have less cause for future COM
plant regarding delays in correspon-
dence with European neutrals. The
government wishes to emphasize its
readiness to receive inquiries from
Americans, particularly in regard TO
delay. and missing letters in order that
such inquiries may be thoroughly In
vestigated and in order to avert mis-
understandings.
The American note is being ex-
amined by the British and French gov
ernments, but the views OF the French
government have not yet been received.
The British government wishes It
could be realized in America what an
enormous organization is needed to
deal with the thousands of mail bags
which arc TO DC handled in a few hours,
and 10 what extent success already has
been achieved.
The American note enbodies diff
cult legal arguments, but the time the
allies will need to consider these will
not affect the British governments
energetic attempts to meet the prac-
teal needs of the situation in bust
nesslike spirit"