BRITAIN'S REPLY TO THE AMERICAN NOTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN'S REPLY TO THE AMERICAN NOTE

OUR EXERCISE OF BELLIGERENT RIGHTS . (Rec. January 18, 7.45 p.m.) London, February 17. The Press Bureau states that Sir Edward 1 Grey's reply to the American Note on the contraband question on February 10 points out that nowadays trade and finance are cosmopolitan, and neutral commerce cannot escape grievous dislocation during a great war. American oxporfcs of all merchandise, except cotton, during the first seven months of 1914 declined 14} per | cent., while the exports of the same articles from August to November dropped less than 4 per cent. Consequently, excluding cotton, the effect of the warhad been to arrest the decline of American exports. Any decrease in the exports attributable to the war was essentially due tA cotton which was not contraband. ■ . _ _ . The Note reviews the history of the Prize Courts, and shows that Britain's exerciso of belligerent rights causes the minimum delay to neutrals. The announcement of' Germany's intention to sink merchantmen cargoes without the verification of nationality providing for the safety of non-com-batants' crews, made it necessary for the British Government to consider measures of protection. It was impossible for one belligerent to depart from the rules and precedents, and for the other to remain bound thereby. Sir Edward Grey points out that the distinction between foodstuffs destined for civilians and those for armed forces disappears when the distinction between the civil population and the armed forces disappears. However much the goods mav be intended for civil use, they will be consumed by the military if exigencies require- especially now that the German Government has taken control of all tie foodstuffs. / POINTS OF SIR EDWARD GREY'S REPLY UNITED STATES TRADE WITH NEUTRALS. (Rec. February 18, 10.10 p.m.) London, February 18. Sir Edward Grey, in a White Paper of 7000 words, addressed to Mr. Page (United States Ambassador in London), again insists that the United States trade with neutrals has actually increased since the war beean. showing that a. substantial part was intended for the enemy. He instanced the fact that the United States exported meat products to Denmark, and oil to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Elaborate German machinery for the supply of foodstuffs from overseas was now coming to light. _ _ _ Under the circumstances, he salci, it would he absurd to give a definite pledge not to interfere in cases where the supplies can he proved to be for the use of the enemy's'force, merely because the expedient is adopted of shipping to an agent at a r.eutral port. The fact that neutrals were suffering from a shortage of ocean transport was not due to Britain's interference; only eleven neutral vessels were awaiting adjudication by the Prize Court. Britain would not object to the release of these neutral ships on bail. The detention of neutral ships had not contributed to *he shortage as much as hod the mines, laid, as they were, indiscriminately in the high seas, and which had already destroyed twenty-five neutral vessels. A century ago the difficulties of land transport had rendered it impracticable for belligerents to obtain sea-borne goods through neutral nations, but the advent ,of steam had made this easy. Intercepting Supplies. , The United States, in its Civil War, first practised the capture of contraband destined for the enemy, but shipped to a neutral port. Britain was now facing 'the problem of intercepting supplies which had been arranged for by an elaborate organisation, with unstinted expenditure. Hence it was necessary to inquire the destination of particular shipments, even if there was- a slight delay, otherwise they would have to abandon their belligerent Tights, prolong the' war,, and increase the loss and suffering of the world. The system of making inquiries was a new departure, but wholly to the advantage of neutrals. The growth and size of steamships often necessitated their be?ng taken into calm water. .War cruisers encountered many neutral merchantmen und&r conditions which made it impossible to launch a boat. During the Civil War the United States took vessels to port in similar circumstances. In the Russo-Japanese War the right of search was especially necessary when merchantmen were able to lay mines, and were even fitted' for tho discharge of torpedoes, and able to conceal supplies for submarines under other cargo. Britain was making every effort to reduce the delays to, a minimum. Conditional Contraband. "The most difficult questions in connection with .conditional contraband arises from foodstuffs," said Sir Edward Urey. 'Bismarck in 1885 refused to intervene in connection with the treatment of rice as contraband, urging that the necessary evils of war may be increased by the interference of neutrals with the manner in which another Poww carries on war. The object of the measure was to shorten the war by increasing the enemy's difficulties. This was justifiable, if impartially enforced upon all neutral ships. Sir Edward Grey says that the British Government is disposed to think that Germany is still maintaining this view. Sir Edward Grey concludes by recalling the fact that Britain established a Special Committeo to ensure the speedy release of neutral 'goods, aboard enemy's ships, and this was highly appreciated by many Americans. Similarly, Britain consented to waive belligerent rights where ships belonged to companies incorporated-in Germany but owned by American, corporations. "When the facts are better known, it is hoped that it will be apparent to Americans that Britain-is acting on lines consstent with the fundamental principle of Internatonal Law, and exercising her belligerent rights ivith every possible consideration for the interest of .'neutrals."

COMPENSATION FOE TH£ INJURED. (Rec. .February 18, 11.35- p.m.) Londonj February 18. The Board of Trade announces that compensation will be payable to all persons on British merchantmen who may be injured during the hostilities. GERMANY'S REPLY : PLEA OF SELF-DEFENCE STRAINED RELATIONS WITH AMERICA. ' London, February 17. An official message from Berlin states that Germany's reply to America states that the blockade is necessary in self-defence, against England's violation of international law. (Rec. February 18, 8.50 p.m.) Washington, Fefcniair 17. ■ Germany has notified the United States that strained relations exists between Germany and America. It is understood that war is unlikely. President Wilson is deeply concerned, butis determined to prevent war at all costs. Cabinet has decided to again notify Britain of the Government's strong objection to the proclamation of the blockade against foodstuffs intended for Germany. . LESSONS OF THE NORTH SEA BATTLE VINDICATION OF LORD FISHER'S BIG GUN POLICY. (Rec. February ]8, 5.55' p.m.) London, February 17. During the course of his recent speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) said hat the German Army was not readiar for an offensive war on a gigantic scale than was the British Fleet for national defence. "It must never be forgotten," he said, "that the situation in every sea is dominated and decided by the influence of Sir John Jellicoe's Fleet. We do not know at what hour Lord Kitchener may ask the .Admiralty to mo'vo twenty thousand,, or even forty thousand men, and he does not know, until wo tell him, how we shall move them, or to what parts. Our plans are frequently changed, purposely, at the very-last moment. We ha\e and flexible machinery for moving whole armies with celerity, wherever desired, in a manner never before contemplated." Referring to the fight off the Dogger Bank, Mr. Churchill said that this conflict between the finest ships of both navies had vindicated bi<j gun armament, which had been identif'ed with the name of Admiral Lord * Fisher. A remarkable feature of the action was that all our ships exceeded their previous steaming records. "Hero Is a squadron which has been constanfcly_ at sea for six months. Suddenly the greatest trials are demanded of # the engines, and all excel their peacetime records. _ "Vice-Admiral Beatty's action shows that at odds of five to four in representative ships, the accepted, without. doubt or hesitation, their inferiority. When, if ever/ their great fleet sets out for a general battle, wo'hope to bring into line a preponderance, not of five to four, but of something considerably greater." Mr. Churchill added: "There are good reasons for believing that the economic pressure which our Navy exerts is beginning to be felt in Germany." and Sydnej "Sun" Ser-vices.