BRITAIN'S BLACK LIST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2930, 16 November 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN'S BLACK LIST

VISCOUNT GREY'S REPLY. TO AMERICA ' FIRM, COURTEOUS, AND DIGNIFIED (Aust.-N.z. Cable Asbh. Md Boutor.) "r»„i • i '•"idon, November 14. yms • 0 American Note protest n g against the Black. List as P an ?«iJi v- wterfer ° llCo with neutral Ewtlrn Gl '? y ( Seereta ry for &f al / s) roltel ' ates that the prohibitron of trade applies only to Bi tish subjects, and is indisputably within Britain's riehts. Replying to n»L;^, rS ?! P° sslble unwarranted oxpansion of the system, -Viscount Grey points out that every addition to the list lestricts British commercial opportumties; therefore it is to interest to confine the list to the utmost: but it is notorious that many firms iu neutral countries have been active agents tor German espionage, and propaganda, have supplied German cruisers, and have organised, paid miscreants to destroy ships and factories supplying tho Allies. It has been suggested that the military position is now .such that nothing happening in distant neutral countries could affect the result. Viscount Grey wishes it ware so, but there is still a long, and bitter struggle ahead. The possible inconvenience to neutrals is incomparable for the moment to the suffering and loss occasioned to mankind iby the prolongation of the war b,V eyen a week. , Britain is fully entitled to refuse bunker coal to ships carrying goods for firms which have been placed- oa the Black List, especially uv> view of Germany's efforts to reduce the world's tonnage, rendering it necessary to reserve British coal as far as possible for British trade. Between June 1 and September 80 the enemy's submarines sank 262 vessels, of which number 65 were neutrals. Viscount Grey quotes precedents from tho American Civil War as justification for the British action, and .trusts the explanations given will remove the suspicions and erroneous views prevailing ui the United Statos.