The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-31

| jury 20 American citizens from such
measures. arbitrarily taker. and OF serl-
GUS and fncalculable Interruptions OF
American trade are without limit.
Safeguards Brushed Aside.
at has been stated on behalf of His
Matesty's government that these mea-
enires were aimed only at the enemies
OF Great Britain and would be adopted
and enforced with strict regard to the
rights of neutrals and with the least
possible detriment to neutral trade
but 1t is evident that they are inevt-
tabIy and essentially inconsistent with
the rights of the citizens or all the
nations not involved in war. The gov
eminent Of the United States begs the
government OF His Britannia Majesty
that the citizens of the United States
are entirely within their rights In at
tempting TO trade with the people or
the governments of any of the ma
tionss now at war, subject only to we'll
defined international practices and un-
derstanSlnE which the government or
the United States deems the govern
ment OF Great Britain to nave TOO
/ lightly and too frequently disregarded.
/ There are we'll known remedies ana
penalties for breaches of blockade
| where the blockade is real and IN
/ fact effective for trade in contraband,
/ for every unneutral act by whomso-
ever attempted. The government OF
/ the United States cannot consent to
see there remedies and penalties al
tered or extended at the Will OF a SIN
gle power or group of powers to the
/ injury of its own citizens or in dero-
cation of its own rights. Conspicuous
among the principles which the civil
uzed nations of the world have ac-
copied for the safeguarding OF the
| rights of neutrals is the just ana
honorable principle that neutrals may
not. he condemned nor their goods
Iconnscated except upon fair adjudica-
ton and after an opportunity TO be
heard in prize courts or elsewhere.
Such safeguards the black list brushfs
aside 1t condemns without hearing,
without notice. and in advance, 1t Is
manifstly out of the question that the
government of the United states
should acauicsce In such methods or
applications of punishment to its clu-
> zens.
Inconsistent With Justice.
whatever may be said with re-
q card to the legality. in view of in
ternational obligations, of the act OF
J Parliament upon which the practice
. of the blacklist as now employed by
5 His Matesty's government Is under
I stood to be based. the government OF
I the United states Is constrained to re-
l gard that practice MS inconsistent VIII
that true justice, sincere amity anc
impartial fairness which should char
3 acteriZc the dealings of friendly gov
/ ernments with one another. The spiri
OF reciprocal trade between the United
States and Great Britain. the privilege
= Hong accorded to the nationals OF eacf
to come and go with their ships aut
cargoes. to use each the others ship
|. ping, and he served each by the Others
; merchants is very seriously impaired
. by arbitrary and sweeping practice
- such as this, There is no purpose o
inclination on the part OF the govern
= ment OF the United States to shielt
American citizens or business houses
in any way from the legitimate con
= sequences OF unneutral acts or prac
tees; Il Is quite willing that the,
should suffer the appropriate penaltie
which international law and the usag'
of nations have sanctionedi but Hi
, Britannia Matesty's government can
= not expect the government of thu
United States to consent to see IT
citixens put upon an ex parte blacl
list without calling the attention o
. His ajesty's government, In tn
-, gravest terms, to the many serious
. consequences to neutral rights ant
neutral relations which such an &C
must necessarily involve 1t hopes
and believes that His Majesty's gov
eminent, in its natural absorption II
a single pressing object of policy ha
> acted without full realization of tn,
many undesired and undesirable re
suits that might ensue,
(Slgned) POLK. Acting"