Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-24
.Forfeitine Good Will

The sharp tone of the aide me-
MORE sent by Secretary Hull to Lord
Lothian, the British Ambassador,
reflects mounting irritation at the
State Department with what are
deemed to be repeated interferences
by Great Britain with the rights of
the United States as neutral power.
This latest protest concerns what
American officials say are unreal
sonable delays in examining our
ships for contraband at British con-
troll stations, particularly at Gibral-
tar. American vessels have been
held up by the British for periods
ranging up to eighteen days, the
average being 12.4 days. In contrast,
the State Department says, Italian
ships are examined and cleared in an
average of four days each.
British officials have said that
Italian ships are easier to examine
because they generally carry fewer
items OF cargo, and they also claim
that American shippers have been
reluctant to cooperate with the
British authorities. To this the State
Department replies that the ship
pers have been cooperating ito an
amazing extent" In that connection
1t is noted that 3,214 navicerts were
issued to American shippers by Brit
ish authorities in this country dur
ing December and that they have
been issued at the rate Of 1870 to 100
day this month.
A rlavicert is a certificate to the
effect that cargo or particular
item of cargo is not contraband and
is not destined for Germany. The
State Department has withheld
formal approval of the navicert sys-
tenn, which amounts to a form of
British control exercised within the
United States, but the extent to
which 1t is being used by American
shippers, despite many complaints
that the British often refuse to issue
navicerts without assigning any rea-
son, has been cited as evidence of
the willingness Of American ship
pers to cooperate with Britain.
Presumably ships which have ex-
perienced serious delays in getting
past the blockade control points did
not have navicerts for all their car
goes, and it may be expected that
this Government will be alert to
guard against the possibility that
excessive delays may be used by the
British as means Of forcing Amer
lean shippers to fall into line with
the navicert plan.
The State Department also has
protested vigorously against the
searching by the British of Ameri-
can mail, particularly that on YES
sells bound for neutral countries.
This protest was made under Article
l, of the Hague Convention, which
says: Postal correspondence of neu-
trails and belligerents, whatever its
official or private character may be,
1Ound on the high seas aboard neu-
trail or enemy ships is inviolable."
In the face of the explicit nature of
this language, the British have taken
the position that it applies only to
what they consider to be genuine"
postal correspondence and have in
Dictated that they will continue to
search the mails despite the protest
by this Government.
AS matters now stand, it appears
that the State Department is cor
rect in its charge that American
rights have been consistently violated
by the British, and there is no con-
vincing showing that these trans
gressions have been necessary steps
in the conduct of the war. Irrespec-
tive Of what further action this Gov
eminent may decide to take if the
violations continue, the British
should be made to understand that
they are pursuing a course which
can only be expected to result in the
alienation of American good will.