The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-11-15
FAILS TO MEET
AMERICAN WISH
Great Britain Fails to Agree that Ameri-
can Firms Be Stricken from the
Black List--Note Made
Public.


Washington, u. c., Nov. l5.--The Brit
ish reply to the latest American note
protesting against the trade blacklist
made public last night by the state de
partment, denies that rights OF neutral
traders under international law nave
been ruthlessly cancelled, defines the
blacklist measure as municipal regu'
lation plainly concerning only the Brit
ish government and British citizens and
contends that it is designed to shorten
the war.
| The note fails to meet the American
demand that the names of American
! firms be stricken from the blacklist, but
attempts to convince the state depart
ment that the British position is just
and founded on law. 1t leaves open the
door for further negotiation, which is ex-
pected to follow.
The note was subscribed by Viscount
Grey, the British foreign minister, and
was addressed to and transmitted by
Walter Hines Page, the American am
bassador at London.
A part which attracted much official
notice dealt with the subieet of peace,
based on the theory that one American
contention had been that there exists no
military necessity for the blacklist, that
it is unnecessary for the allies to pre-
iudice neutral commerce, and that moth
ing which happens in neutral countries
can influence the result of the great con-
lict.
IF that really were the position"
says the note, ''it is possible that the
measures taken by His Majesty's govern
ment might be described as uncalled
for, but it is not. We may well wish
that it were so. Even though the mill
tary situation of the allies has greatly
improved, there is still a long and Bit
ter struggle in front of them, and one
which in justice to the principles for
which they are fighting imposes upon
them the duty of employing every OPP
portunity and every measure which they
can legitimately use to overcome their
opponents.
"One observation which is very COM
monty heard is that certain belligerent
acts, even though lawful, are too petty
to have an influence in a struggle of
such magnitude. 1t is, | know, difficult
for those who have no immediate con-
tact with war to realize with what pain
full anxiety men and women in this coun
try must regard even the smallest acts
which tend to increase, ii only by a
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 expressed |
to such perils.
"Whatever inconvenience may be |
caused to neutral nations by the exer
else of belligerent rights, it is not to |
be compared for an instant to the suffer /
ing and loss occasioned to mankind by
the prolongation of the war even for
week"
In its argument the note points out
hat German business houses throughout
he world have furthered the cause of
Germany in the war, and have been ac-
tive agents "for the dissemination of
Ierman political and social influence and
'or the purposes of espionage"
"In some cases." continues the note,
they have even been used as bases of
supply for German cruisers, and in 9TH
.r cases organizers and paymasters OF
employed to destroy by foul
means factories engaged in making, or
hips engaged in carrying supplies re-
Iuired by the allies. Such operations
AVE been carried out in the territory
wen of the United States itself, and /
IN bound to observe, what | think will
lot be denied, that no adequate action
las yet been taken by the government
# the United States to suppress breaches
# neutrality of this particularly crimi
al kind, which / know that they are
he first to discountenance and deplore. {
"In the face Of enemy activities OF this |
ature it was essential for His Maies- {
US government to take steps that
hould at least deprive interests so b
trongly hostile of the facilities and ad- {
antages of unrestricted trading with
British subjects. The public opinion of
his country would not have tolerated
he prolongation of the war by the con-
inued liberty of British subjects TO
rade with and so enrich the firms in
oreign countries whose wealth and inhu-
nee were alike at the services of the {
rmy."
The note is based largely on the argu
lent that there is no assumption by
ireat Britain of power to interfere with :.
eutral traders, but that the blacklist
, a matter of municipal law enjoining
british subjects from trading with per-
ons found to be assisting or rendering !
ervice to the enemy. 1t disclaims any !
ltention of imposing penalties or dis
bilities on neutral trade.
81 can scarcely believe" it says, "that :
he United States government intends to
hallenge the right of Great Britain as .
sovereign state to pass legislation pro- +
ibiting all those who owe her allegiance !
rom trading with any specified per !
ons when such prohibition is found U
ecessary in the public interest. The
ght to do so is so obvious that / feel II
IRE that the protest which your excel
ncy has handed to me has been found
| on miseonception of the scope and e
ltent of the measures which have been u
ken"
The note says the British government
,adily admits the United States con-
.ntion that neutrals have the right to
-ade with belligerents, but that the
nited States must also admit the right
one belligerent to stop this trade by
wful means, as seizures of contrabsnd
blockade by lawful means. But this Y