Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-27
FINAL WARNING
CONTINUED from Page One)

In reality the government of the
United States desires to state that it
does not consider that the postal I'M
ion convention of 1906 necessarily ap-
plies to the interference by the British
and French governments with the
oversee transportation of mails of
which the government of the United
allied Powers appear to have over
looked the admission of the govern
ment of the United States that post
parcels may be treated as merchan-
disc subject to the exercise of bellig
erent rights as recognized by interna-
tional law. But the government of the
United States does not admit that such
parcels are subject to the exercise of
the rights of police supervision, vista
ton and eventual seizure which be-
longs to belligerents as to all cargoes
on the high seas" as asserted in the
joint note under acknowledgment.
1t is noted with satisfaction that the
British and French governments do
not claim and in the opinion of this
government properly do not claim that
their so-called blockade" measures
are sufficient grounds upon which to
base a right to interference with all
classes of mail matter in transit to or
from the Central Powers.
Though giving assurances that they
consider genuine correspondence" to be
''inviolable," and that they will. true to
their engagements" refrain ION the high
seas" from Selling and confiscating such
correspondence, the allied governments
proceeded to deprive neutral governments
of the benefits of these assurances by
selling and confiscating mail from vessels
in port instead of at sea. They compel
neutral ships, through some form of
duress, to send their mail ships via Brit
ish ports, or they detain all vessels mere
ly calling at British ports. thus acquiring
by force or unjustifable means an illegal
jurisdiction. Acting upon this enforced
Jurisdiction the authorities remove all
mail, genuine correspondence as we'll as
post parcels, take them to London, where
every piece, even though Of neutral ORR
gin and destination, Is opened and crit
ically examined to determine the Sin
certify of their character in accordance
fined phrase by the British and French
censors. Finally the expurgated remain
der is forwarded, frequently after irrep-
arabic delay, to its destination Ships are
detained enroute to or from the United
States, or to or from other neutral coun-
tries and mails are held and delayed for
several days and. in some cases for weeks
and even months. even though not routed
to ports Of north Europe via British ports.
Thus has been the procedure which has
been practiced since the announcement Of
Feb Is, 1916. To some extent the same
practice was followed before that date,
calling forth the protest of this govern
ment on Jan. 2, 1916. But to that protest
the memorandum under acknowledgment
makes no reference and is entirely respon-
Give. The government of the United
States must again insist with emphasis
that the British and French governments
do not obtain rightful Jurisdiction Of ships
by forcing or inducing them to visit their
ports for the purpose of Selling their
mails or thereby obtaining greater bellig-
erent rights asHto such ships than they
is, In the opinion Of the government of
the United States, no legal distinction
between the seizure Of mails at sea, which
is announced as abandoned, and their
seizure from vessels voluntarily or invol-
unfairly in port.
The British and French practice
amounts to an unWarTapte6 limita-