BRITISH ATTITUDE EXPLAINED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16314, 22 February 1915, Page 5

BRITISH ATTITUDE EXPLAINED.

SIR I;. GREY SPEAKS PLAINLY'. RESPONSIBILITY ON AMI-RICA AM) NEUTRALS. DISREGARD 01 INTERNATIONAL USAGES. LONDON, February 20. (Received Feb. 21, at 4 p.m.) Sir P.. Grey slates that the British Government lias just become aware of a fresh German decree of the 6th inst. ostensibly exempting imported grain and flour from the Government mono, poly apparently for the express purpose of embarrassing the proceedings against the Wilheimina. The effect of this decree on the question of contraband will best be investigated by the Prize Court.

Sir E. Grey proceeds to state that there are other grounds for submitting the cargo to a prize court. Germany publicly claims to treat all the Entflisa east coast towns as fortified places and bases of operations, thereby justifying the bombardment of Yarmouth, Scarborough, and Whitby, and also the seizure of neutral vessels carrying contraband on the east coast. The Karlsruhe similarly sank the Dutch vessel Maria, carrying grain to Dublin and Belfast. " Germany cannot have it both ways. If such acts are justified Britain is a fortiori justified in similarly treating Harburg, whither the Wilheimina was bound."

Sir E. Grey reiterates the assurance that the owners of the vessel and cargo will be indemnified. Regarding the question of the flags he points out than an American passenger requested the Lnsitania, when bound to America, to hoist the American flag. The Government did not advise the company how to meet the request. Britain permits a foreign vessel to use the British flag in war time to avoid capture, and it is unreasonable to expect Britain to forbid her merchantmen to use foreign flags; especially so when Germany intends piratically to sink them at sight. American vessels used British flatfs during the civil war, and it is contrary to fair expectation if. when conditions are reversed, America and neutrals gdudge British ships similar facilities. The Government docs not intend to advise British merchantmen to use foreign flags as a general practice or to resort thereto except to escape capture or destruction. If a belligerent fulfils the universally recognised obligation of examination before capturc or before destruction, the use of neutral flags by the British will not endanger neutral vessels. Britain holds that neutral vessels will suffer only because that obligation is disregarded, and the sole responsibility is upon the vessel and the Government which dis= regards it. Britain has not declared foodstuffs to be absolute contraband, as in accordance with civilised principle civilians should not be treated similarly to combatants, but the novel German doctrines abolish the distinction. Sir E. Grey instances the treatment of civilians in Belgium and the north of France, the indiscriminate mining ofthe North Sea, the killing of defenceless English men, women, and children by warships and airships, and the rccent torpedoing at sight. Britain cannot be expected to be bound by the rules Germany defies. Sir E. Grey concludes: "If Britain declares food to be absolute contraband, or otherwise takes reprisals, the Government trusts that neutrals will not appeal to international usages as long as neutrals cannot compel Germany to abandon her illegal and inhuman methods."

MESSAGE FROM HIGH COMMISSIONED

WELLINGTON, February 21. The High Commissioner advises, under date February 19 (10.25 p.m.) :— Important memoranda have been sent by Sir E. Grey to Mr Page with regai'd to the Lusitania and the seizure of the Wilhelmina's cargo. With regard to the Lusitania Sir E. Guv states :—

The British Merchant Shipping Act makes clear that the use of the British flag by foreign merchantmen is permitted in war time for the purpose of escaping capture. It is unreasonable to expect the Government to pass legislation forbidding the use of foreign flags under those circumstances. While the Government does not intend to advise merchantmen to use foreign flags as a general practice, it points out that the obligations upon a belligerent warship to ascertain definitely the nationality and character of a vessel before capture or destruction are universally recognised. If that obligation is fulfilled the use of a neutral flag by a British vessel cannot endanger neutral shipping, the British Government holding that if neutral loss is incurred the responsibility lies on the enemy. With regard to the Wilhelmina, the German Government claims to treat practically all the towns and ports on the English coast as fortified places. This was the ground of the bombarding of the open towns of Yarmouth, Scarborough, and Whitby. Vessels bound for English towns on the east coast with cargoes on the German list as conditional contraband were seized, made German prisoners, and taken to German prize courts. The Dutch vessel Maria, from California to Dublin with a cargo of grain, was sunk by the Karlsruhe. The German Government cannot have both ways, and the British Government must have liberty to treat Hamburg as a fortified place. Sir E. Grey Teealls attention to the, propriety of awaiting the result of the Prize Court before taking diplomatic action. The Government so far has not declared foodstuffs to be absolute contraband, and has not interfered with neutral ships with food cargoes except when destined for the Government of the enemy. The principle that civilians are not exposed to the treatment of combatants has been interfered with by the novel doctrines of the German Government. If the Government hereafter is constrained to declare foodstuffs absolute contraband such action cannot be challenged by neutral States so long as they do not compel Germany to abandon methods of warfare not having the sanction either of law or humanity.