Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-15
NOTES OF
POWERS GIVEN OUT
No Immediate Danger Of
Putting Into Effect Re-
taliatory Measures Pro
vided for by Congress
Negotiations Will Be Con-
tinued.

and France clash with the yievr of tina
United States on the question of neutfa.
mail rights, but the clash is not impos-
sible of adjustment.
This is the conclusion of Washington
tonight with the state departments
publication of identical notes from the
two allied governments on the subject
or mail seizures. 1t was made clear
That there is hope of reconciling the
radically differing views. There is rea-
son to believe that the French and
English governments, having already
greatly modified the actual effect Of
their policy, the United States merely
will pursue the negotiation to a con-
clusion automatically.
One thing certain, Washington off,
cialdom agreed. is that use of the re-
Gently enacted retaliation legislation
is no more imminent because of the
present expression of the allied coun-
tries on the mail seizures
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE.
The allied governments differ from
the American government on the fol-
lowing points and maintain:
That they are justified in forcing neu-
trail ships into allied ports for the pur-
pose OF censoring mail.
AS the Hague convention was not
signed by all of the beligerents the
allies are not bound by its provisions
respecting mail censorship.
The practices of nations in previous
wars shows no rules prohibiting the
present allied censorship policy.
Germany. contrary to the statement
Of ha Int fnd hat ako
served the American principles. has
sunk many steamers with the conse-
quent total loss of the mail aboard.
Money order lists OF the United States
postoffices are really the same as mon
ey orders and therefore are subject to
seizure by the allies.
Although state department officials
refused to comment formally on the
note, 1t is known the department does
not agree with the allies assumption
expressed in the notes" that the gov
Of the United States acknowl-
edges it agrees with the allied govern
ments as to principles.
The main contention, according 20
of international law, who
have been following the mail negotia-
lions. is whether the allies have the
tight to search mail in neutral ships on
he high seas, or force such vessels into
allied jurisdiction to make the search.
The issue is caused by two conflict
ng, well established principles of inter-
national law. The one is that q bellig-
,rent may search neutral vessels at sea
or cAntraband. The other is that a
etter aboard a neutral ship at sea Is
nviolate.
MUST BE WORKED OUT.
1t is this problem which must be
worked out in future negotiations. In
ustifying the various acts OF variance
With the United States contentious re-
;arding the extent of the censorship
privileges the note said:
Under the right to search for con-
raband. the allies are justified in
earching letter mail, even on neutrals
which do not usually come into an al
led port. Their purpose in forcing
uch ships into allied ports Is to IA
llitate search and cause the minimum
clay.
In previous wars OF sufficient terri
orial extent and magnitude, the same
rinciples of mail censorship were used
nd that the cases cited by the Ameri-
an note were cases where the nature
( the wars did not necessitate such
rastic action.
NOTES JUSTIFY COURSE.
In justifying the censorship of neu-
raj mail to neutral country upon the
of contraband search, the notes
ay:
"A few lines Of a letter delivered TO
n enemy may be as useful or even
lore useful than cargo OF arms and
to promote his war opera
ons. The assistance rendered In such
ases by the vessels carrying such
'tter is as dangerous for the other
elligerent as the assistance resulting
'om the transportation of military car
oes.
Hostile acts which had been pro-
'cted In mails here failed. Dangerous
lots from which even neutral coun-
les are not safe at the hands OF the
lemy, were discovered in the mails
nd baffled.
FINALLY the addresses of certain Lett
CONTINUED on Page Twos