File No. 763.72112/2303

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State

No. 3092

Sir: With reference to the Department’s cablegram No. 27741 of January 25, and my telegraphic reply No. 3913 of the 18th instant,2relative to the possible effects of the Trading with the Enemy (Extension of Powers) Act, 1915, on the commerce of the United States, I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of the Department, a copy of the note, dated the 16th instant, which has been addressed to the Embassy by the Foreign Trade Department of the Foreign Office in this connection.

I have [etc.]

Walter Hines Page
[Enclosure]

The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Grey) to the American Ambassador (Page)

No. 15404/45

Your Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 26th ultimo relative to the possible effects of the Trading with the Enemy (Extension of Powers) Act, 1915, on United States commerce.

The act was framed with the object of bringing British trading with the enemy regulations into greater harmony with those adopted by the French [Page 353] Government since the commencement of the war, by applying in some degree the test of nationality in the determination of enemy character in addition to the old test of domicile which experience has shown cannot provide a sufficient basis under modern commercial conditions for measures intended to deprive the enemy of all assistance, direct or indirect, from national resources

His Majesty’s Government realized, however, that the application of this principle to its fullest extent, while entirely legitimate and in accordance with the practice of other countries, might, if applied at the present time to commercial activities as widespread as those of British subjects, involve avoidable inconvenience and loss to innocent traders.

They were careful, therefore, in devising the necessary legislation not only to avoid any definition which would impose enemy status upon all persons of enemy nationality and associations, but also to take powers of discrimination which would enable them to apply the purely commercial restrictions contemplated only in regard to those persons from whom it was necessary in British interests to withhold the facilities afforded by British resources.

His Majesty’s Government have therefore abstained from a course of action admittedly within their rights as belligerents, which is not only the existing practice of the French Government, but in strict accordance with the doctrine openly avowed by many other States to be the basis upon which their trading with the enemy regulations would be founded in the event of war, and have confined themselves to passing a piece of purely domestic legislation empowering them to restrict the activities and trade of persons under British jurisdiction in such a manner and to such an extent as may seem to them to be necessary in the national interest.

His Majesty’s Government readily admit the right of persons of any nationality resident in the United States to engage in legitimate commercial transactions with any other persons. They cannot admit, however, that this right can in any way limit the right of other governments to restrict the commercial activities of their nationals in any manner which may seem desirable to them by the imposition of prohibitions and penalties which are operative solely upon persons under their jurisdiction.

In claiming this right which appears to them to be inherent in sovereignty and national independence, His Majesty’s Government desire to assure the United States Government that they will exercise it with every possible care to avoid injury to neutral commerce and they venture to think that the voluntary limitation of their powers by the terms of the Trading with the Enemy (Extension of Powers) Act, 1915, is evidence of their desire and intention to act with the greatest possible consideration for neutral interests.

I have [etc.]

For
Sir Edward Grey
:
L. Worthington Evans
  1. Ante, p. 339.
  2. Not printed.