Evening star., 1940-01-16
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PANAMA, Jan. 16.-The text Of
the British reply to the Pan-Ameri-
can protest against violation of the
Americas neutrality zone. as re-
leased by Foreign Minister Narciso
Garay of Panama, follows:
His majesty's government in the
United Kingdom have devoted most
careful consideration to the COM
munication agreed upon unanimous
ly by 81 American republics, the
text Of which was telegraphed his
majesty. the King, by the Acting
President Of Panama, December %,
last.
In that communication reference
was made, among other matters, to
the recent naval action between
British and German warships in the
South Atlantic and to the mari
time security zone described In the
declaration of Panama Of October
3, 1889.
His majesty's government, who
themselves so long strove to pre-
vent war, fully appreciate the de-
sire of the American republics to
keep the war away from the shores
Of the American continent.
Gratified by Consent Clause.
It was, therefore. not merely with
interest but with understanding that
his majesty's government learned Of
the maritime security zone pro-
posal. His majesty's government
noted with satisfaction from the
declaration of Panama itself that
the attempt would be made to base
observance of its provisions upon
the consent of the belligerents.
This fresh expresson of adherence
to the idea Of solving international
difficulties by mutual discussion,
which has always been upheld by
the American republics, confirmed
his majesty's governments belief
that these powers would not at
tempt to enforce observance Of the
zone by unilateral action, and en-
couraged their hope that it would
be possible to give effect by means
Of negotiations to the intentions
which inspired it.
1t was in this spirit his majesty's
government were examining the
proposal of the conference Of
Panama at the time when the
communication Of December % was
received. In view Of this communi-
cation. his majesty's government
desire to draw the attention of the
American republics to the follow
ing considerations:
1t will be apparent, In the first
place, that the proposal involving,
as it does, the abandonment by the
belligerents Of certain legitimate
rights, is not one which on any
basis in international law can be
imposed upon them by unilateral
action, and that its adoption re-
quires their specific assent.
Protection Asked,
The acceptance by his majesty's
government Of the suggestion that
the belligerents should forego their
rights in the zone must clearly be
dependent upon their being assured
that adoption of the zone proposal
would not provide German warships
and supply ships with vast sanctu-
ary from which they could emerge
to attack allied and neutral Ship
ping, to which they could return
to avoid being brought to action,
and in which some unneutral serv-
ice might be performed by non
German ships. for example by use
OF wireless communications.
1t would also be necessary to in
sure that German warships and
supply ships would not be enabled
10 pass with impunity from one
ocean to another through the zone,
or German merchant ships to take
part IN inter-American trade and
earn foreign exchange, which might
be used in attempts to promote
subversion and sabotage abroad and
to procure supplies for prolongation
OF the war, thus depriving the allies
OF the fruits of their superiority at
sea.
Moreover, acceptance of the zone
proposals would have to be on the
basis that 1t should not constitute
precedent for far-reaching altera-
ton In the existing laws Of maritime
neutrality.
Safeguards Proposed.
Unless these points are adequately
safeguarded. the zone proposals
might only lead to an accumulation
Of belligerent ships in the zone.
This, in turn, might well bring the
risk OF war near to the American
states and lead to friction between
on the one hand the allies, pursuing
their legitimate belligerent activi-
ties, and on the other the American
republics, endeavoring to make this
new policy prevail.
The risk of such friction, which
his majesty's government would be
the first to deplore, would be in
creased by the application OF sane
tions. His majesty's government
must emphatically repudiate any
suggestion that his majesty's ships
have acted, or would act, in any
way that would justify the adoption
by neutrals of punitive measures
which do not spring from the &C.
cepted canons Of neutral rights and
obligations.
If, therefore, the American states
were to adopt scheme of sanctions
for the enforcement of the zone pro-
posal, they would, in effect, be offer
ing a sanctuary to German warships
within which his majesty's ships
would be confronted with the in
vidious choice Of having either to
refrain from engaging their enemy
or laying themselves open to penal
ties in American ports and waters
Up to the present, it does not ap-
pear that means have been found
by which disadvantages Of the zone
proposals could be eliminated. That
this u the case was shown BY the