Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-15
BRITAINS REPLY
TCU. PROTEST
EMBARRASSING
Earl Grey Defines Object Q
Scheme: Insists II is Only
Police Regulation
DENIES INTERNATIONAL
LAW Is VIOLATED
Minister Assures Lansing SyS.
tenn Will Not Be Carried to
Unnecessary Extent

fAEsoeiated Press by Federal W iEFlt7~ !. +.
WASHINGTON, u. G.. Nov. H.
The long await I'd british reply TO me
protest against The British and french
blacElisting OF American firms iIied
BIZ this government with the British
ministrg Of foreign affairs some
months ago. was made public here last
night b. the officials Of the state de-
paHment
The answer. which is addressed to
Ambassador Page and is signed by
Earl Grey. minister OF state for Tor
eign affairs Of the Asquith govern
ment. denies fatty that the rights OF
neutral traders under international
law have been "ruthlessly violated by
Great Britain. (" as alleged in the note
of protest sent 10 london By Secretary
Of State Lansing.
Denies Aim of List
Tie reply also fully defines the OBJ
jects and intention OF the blacklist
which II holds is in the last analysis
municipal or police regulation and
subject therefore to the control OF the
individual governments which have
put it into force.
The object of the blacklist is to
"crlrtail or shorten by any means the
war that is now raging in Europe,
adds the reply, and is not aimed IN any
way at the trade of neutrals. r
Earl Grey also attempts to convince
the American authorities that the POI
sition Of the British government is
Just and fully founded upon the law OIL
nations in such cases. The British
foreign minister does, however, leave
omen door for further negotiations,
should the United States officials de-
eide to proceed further with the con-
troversy.
The portion of the note from Lon
don which is attracting the major
amount of the attention of the Ameri-
can officials is that section which is
devoted to the subject of peace.
Replies to U. S. Contention
Earl Grey takes up the contention
advanced by the American government
that the necessity for blacklist does
not exist. The American position mas
been that there is no need for such
move on the part of the Allies, mas
much as nothing which Is done in dis
tant neutral nations can Influence the
result Of the war in Europe, and that
as a consequence there is no reason
why the warning powers should inter
fere with, the commerce of such ma
tions.
This, says the British minister III
his note. is not so. IF that were the
case" says the British reply. lone
might with justice describe the meas
ures we have adopted as uncalled fol
and unneeded. We wish indeed that
such was the case.
Although the position of the Allies
has been greatly improved of late
there remains before us still lons
and bitter struggle. struggle which
necessitates the employment of every
possible measure by which we may
| legitimately overcome our opponents
Whatever inconvenience or loss
may be suffered by the neutral ma
| tions because of this state of affairs
| is incompatible; with that which hu
mainly as whole would suffer
through the prolongation OF the wal
| by even so much as one week.
The blacklist system which the Al
lies have adopted will not be carried
to any unnecessary extent, but It mas
| been forced uron US by the clrcum
stances arising out of the great war.