UNCLE SAM'S MAIL BAGS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2904, 17 October 1916, Page 5

UNCLE SAM'S MAIL BAGS

OUR DIFFERENCES WITH AMERICA A NOTE PROM THE ALLIES THE RIGHT OF SEARCH Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. New York, October 14. ■ The reply of the Allies to the American protest regarding the interference with mails, sent in May last, leaves the question unsettled. The reply points out that the Allies and America agree on principles, but differ on the' method. The Allies insist that the diversion of neutral ships to Allied ports does not amount to illegal jurisdiction. _ Merchant vessels voluntarily entering _ a port also must submit to the jurisdiction. It is legitimate for the. Allies to ascertain that they are noj carrying anything hostile to their interests! The German custom of discussing even official correspondence dealing with the hostilities. renders ths supervision imperative. The Allies point out that Germany declined to recognise The Hague Convention, which was not signed by certain Powers, but, nevertheless, the Allies are guided by the intention of the_ Convention, and therefore forward 'inoffensive mails as quickly as possible. Kegarding the right to search mails on the high seas, the Allies adopt a reasonable interpretation of the Convention, but have not admitted, and cannot admit, that this attitude imposes a definite legal obligation. They ospressly reserve to themselves the right of search on the high seas should such a step be necessary owing to abuses, fraud, dissimulation,- or deceit on' the part of the enemy. Experience has shown that the examination of mail has resulted in the deteotion of dangerous plots, which would not'have spared even '■ neutrals. The' Germarl naval authorities destroyed all mail at sea without examination. After dealingin detail with the treatment of different classes of correspondonce, the Note says: "The rights of the United States cannot include the protection of correspondence of a hostile character or disguised, or for a direct or indirect hostile destination. The Allies are always ready to investigate faults and abuses, and to determine the responsibility for them." The New York ."Times" comments: "The differences seem irreconcilable. The puzzle is how to keep neutral mails inviolable, yet to permit belligerents to search for contraband."