South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-27
j. 8. DEMANDS
NEUTRAL RIGHTS
Note to Britain and France
Says No More Interference
Will be Tolerated.

fed Great Britain and France that
il can no longer tolerate the wrongs
which American citizens have suf-
fered and continue to suffer through
the "lawless practice" chose govern
ments have INDUCED in and that
only a radical change in policy, re-
storing the United STATES 10 its full
rights as a neutral power, will be
satisfactory.
This notification is given in the
latest American communication to
the two governments, the text of
which was made public by the state
department Friday night. The TIM :
IN which the change must be effect
ed is not specified, but the United
States expects prompt action.
Property Rights Violated.
Generous and vexatious" abuses
which have been perpetrated by the
British and French governments in
Selling and censoring neutral ms Is
are recited in the communication.
and answers are made to the legal
arguments contained in the reply OF
the entente governments TO the first
American note on the subject. 1t is
vigorously set forth that not only
have American commercial interests
been injured, but that the rights OF
property have been violated and the
rules of international law and Gus
tom palpably disregarded. Notice
is served that the United states soon
will press claims against the British
and French governments for the
losses which already have been sus-
tanned.
The communication. after ac-
knOwledging receipt of the allied
rote of April 5. transmitting the
memorandum of Feb. 10, quotes
from the memorandum and after
brief comment, says:
THE governments of the United
States, Great Britain and France
appear TO be in substantial agree
ment as TO principle. The method
of applying the principle is the chief
cause of differences.
Break Assurances.
Though giving assurance that
they consider genuine correspond
ence' to be inviolable' and that they
viii true TO their engagements re-
frain 'on the high seas from seiz;ng
and confiscating such correspond
ence. the allied governments pro-
ceeded to deprive neutral govern
ments of the benefits Of these as
surances by selling and confiscating
mail from vessels in port instead Of
at sea They compel neutral ships
without just cause 10 enter their
own ports or they induce shipping
lines. through some form of duresS.
TO send their mail ships via British
ports. thus acquiring by force or
unjustifiable means an illegal juris-
diction. Acting upon this enforced
Jurisdiction. the authorities remove
all mail, genuine correspondence as
well as post parcels, take them to
London, where every piece, even
though Of neutral origin and destina-
ton. is opened and critically ex-
amined TO determine the sincerity
of their character in accordance
with the Interpretation given that
underlined phrase by the British and
French censors Finally, the eX-
pUrgated remainder is forwarded.
frequently after irreparable DELAY.
TO its destination. Ships are de-
tanned enroute to or from the United
States or TO and from other neutral
countries 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 This
has been the procedure which has
been practiced since the announce
ment of Feb. 10, 1916. To some
extent the same practice was fol-
lowed before that date, calling forta
the protest of this government on
Jan. 4, 1915 But TO that protest,
the memorandum under acknOwl-
eGgment makes no reference and is
entirely unrespOnsive. The govern
ment 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
obtain greater belligerent rights as
10 such ships than they could eXer-
else on the high seas; for there is, in
the opinion Of the government of
the United States. no legal distinc-
ton between the seizure of mails
at sea, which is announced as aban-
dcned. and their seizure from yes
sells voluntarily or invOluntarily in
port. The British and French prac-
tice amounts TO an unwarranted
limitation on the use by neutrals of
the worlds highway for the trans
mission of correspondence. The
practie actually followed by he
allied powers must be said TO justify
the conclusion therefore that the
announcement of Feb. 10 was mere
Is notice that one illegal practice
had been abandoned 10 make place
for the development OF another more
oherous and vexatious in character.
Violates The Hague.
The present practice Is a viola
ton not only of the spirit of the
announcement OF Feb. 10. but Of
the rule of The Hague convention.
upon which il is cOncededly based.
Aside from this. il is violation OF
the prior practice OF nations which