The text of the Notes which have passed between Sir
Edward Grey and the American Ambassador on the British blockade of Germany were published in Wednesday's papers. On July 16th the American Ambassador wrote that his Government felt "constrained to insist upon the rights of their citizens under the hitherto established principles and rules governing neutral trade in war time, without modifica- tion or limitation of Orders in Council or other municipal legislation by the Government of Great Britain." In reply, Sir Edward Grey observed that the Allies have had to adapt the principles of blockade to the peculiar circumstances of the present war, just as the United States felt the necessity during the Civil War of reshaping some of the old rules. The spirit in which our Prize Court has acted—here be quoted the words of Sir Samuel Evans—shows that it will not willingly accept any Orders in Council which violate international law. Sir Edward Grey added that be had endeavoured to convince the United States Govern- ment, he trusted with success, that "the measures which we have felt ourselves compelled to adopt, in consequence of the numerous violations of the laws of war committed by our enemies, were consistent with the principles of international law." Replying to a further Note protesting against the unlaw- ful seizure of the ' Neches,' of American register, sailing from Rotterdam to America, which was detained in the Downs and made to discharge her cargo at London, Sir Edward Grey pointed to the practice of the German Government to sink neutrals as well as British merchant vessels, irrespective of their destination or the origin of their cargoes, without proper regard or provision for the safety of passengers or crews.
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