Evening star., 1916-07-31
NOTE ON BLACK LIST
SEEKS j. s. RIGHTS
Britain Told This Government
Cannot Acquiesce in Boycott
of American Firms.
HELD FREE TO TRADE
Y WITH NATIONS AT WAR
Protest Is Even More Positive in
Terms Than Had Been Off,
cially Intimated.


Great Britain is told in the American
black list of American firms that the
black list is Inevitably and essentially
inconsistent with the rights Of all the
citizens Of all the nations not involved
IN the war" The text of the note.
made public last night is even more
positive in terms than had been Off
cially intimated.
''Citizens of the United States are en-
tirely within their rights" says the
note. "in attempting to trade with the
people or the governments of any of
the nations now at war. subject only
to we'll defined international practices
and understandings which the govern
ment Of the United States deems the
government of Great Britain to have
too lightly and frequently disregarded."
The note declares 'fn the gravest
terms that 1t is manifestly out of the
question that the government of the
United States should acquiesce in such
methods. Great Britain is warned of
the many serious consequences to
neutral right and neutral relations
which such an act must necessarily in
volve."
Ambassador Page was instructed to
deliver the note formally and textu-
ally 1t is now in the hands OF the
British foreign office.
Text Of the Note.
The text of the note follows:
The announcement that his Britannia
majesty'si government has placed the
names of certain persons, firms and
corporations in the United States upon
. proscriptive black list and has for
hidden all financial or commercial
Great Britain has been received with
the most painful surprise by the people
and government of the United States.
and seems to the government of the
United States to embody a policy of
arbitrary interference with neutral
trade, against which it is its duty to
protest in the most decided terms.
The scope and effect of the policy
are extraordinary. British steamship
companies will not accept cargoes from
the prescribed firms or persons
transport their goods to any port, and
steamship lines under neutral owner
ship understand that II they accept
freight from them they are likely to
be denied coal at British ports and ex-
cluded from other privileges which
they have usually enjoyed. and may
themselves be put upon the black list.
Neutral bankers refuse loans to those
on the list and neutral merchants de-
cline to contract for their goods, fear
ing like prescription.
Americans In q. S. Affected.
TT appears that British officials re-
gard the prohibition of the black list
g. applicable to domestic commercial
transactions in foreign countries as
we'll as in Great Britain and her de-
tendencies. for Americans doing busi-
ness in foreign countries have been
put on notice that their dealings with
black list firms are to be regarded as
subject to veto by the British govern
ment- By the same principle Ameri-
cans in the United States might be
made subject to similar punitive action
II they were found dealing with any
Of their own countrymen whose names
had thus been listed.
The harsh and even disastrous eff
fects of this policy upon the trade of
the United States and upon the neutral
rights upon which it will not fail TO
insist are obvious. Upon the list of
those prescribed and in effect shut out
world may be found American con-
Germs which are engaged in large COM
mercial operations as importers of for
efgn products and materials and as dis
tributera of American products and
manufacturers to foreign countries and
which constitute important channels
through which American trade reaches
the outside world. Their foreign afil-
fations may have been fostered for
many years. and when once broken
cannot easily or promptly be re-estab-
lished. Other concerns may be put
upon the list at any time and without
notice.
Possibilities Of Harm Unlimited.
1T is understood that additions to the
prescription may be made whenever on
account of enemy nationality or enemy as
ISOLATION of such persons or bodies OF
persons 1t appears to his majesty expedi-
ent to do so. The possibilities of unde-
served injury to American citizens from
such measures. arbitrarily taken, and Of
serious and incalculable interruptions of
American trade are without limit.
TT has been, stated on behalf of his
maJesty's government that these meas
ures 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 IT is evil
dent that they are inevitably and essen
TALLY inconsistent with the rights of the
citizens OF all the nations not involved
In war.
The government Of the United States
begs TO remind the government Of his
Britannic majesty that citizens Of the
United States are entirely within their
rights in attempting to trade with the
people Or the governments OF any Of the
nations now at war, subject only to well
defined international practices and under
standings which the government Of the
United States deems the government OF
Great Britoin TO have too lightly aid too
frequently disregarded.
Condemns Without Hearing.
There are well known remedies and