The Black List Controversy.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15750, 17 November 1916, Page 6

The Black List Controversy.

Wo are told to-day that the American Government has accepted Britain's position respecting the ''black list" policy —the policy, that is to say, under which Britain prohibited direct and indirect commercial assistance to certain named firms in neutral countries. From the beginning, as we pointed out when the controversy first arose, there was no ground whatever upon which America could object to what was. in the last analysis, an order issued oy the British Government to subjects of the King of England. The Amcrickn Government, however, inado a protest in sharp terms. After setting out tho severe disabilities sustained by the proscribed American firms in their trading with other Americans, the American Government, in a Note issued on July 28th last, declared that it "'would not "fail to insist" on the "neutral rights" disastrously affected by tho British policy. It begged to remind tho British Government "that citizens of the " United States axe entirely within " their rights in attempting to trade

" with tho people or tho Governments *"of any of the nations now at war," subject only to well-defined inter-

national pfbetices which, it was impudently added, "the Government of tho "United States deems the Government "of Great Britain to have too lightly "and too frequently disregarded.'' - The United .States Government "could not "consent" to see tho well-known remedies nnd penalties for breaches of blorkade altered or extended at tho will of any foreign Power. It "'as '"out. of " the question that the Government, of "the United States should acquiesce" in the black list policy. The United States Government "eonld not lie ex " pectod to consent," and the Note

wound up with the menace contained in the "'hope nnd belief" that Britain had "acted without a full realisation of

'• the many undesired and undesirable '•results that might ensue." Britain, in reply, was content to ba,so its defence upon the unquestionable legality of the policy complained of, and this legality the Wilson Administration does not appear seriously to have disputed. That the American Government lias now given way is a triumph for Great Britain, or a defeat for Mr Wilson, is

i a point that is of much less moment to I British people tban it may bo to Ameri- | cans. Most British people, we fancy, will merely feel glad that the W&lson Administration has decided to abstain from a course which, if it were persists ed in, would perhaps have led to a situation as much to be regretted by Americans as by Englishmen. Nobody need wonder that Americans should feel sore over the "black list" and the British supervision of ocean mails and ocean commerce. Keeping out of the war, they have expected to escape the inconveniences of existence during the war. This i s perhaps a natural weakness, but it is none the less unreasonable, and tho latest American admission that a neutral's convenience cannot he admitted to override a belligerent's undoubted rights will do something towards improving AngloAmerican relations.