1916.

4191 The Secretary of State to Sept. 18 Instructs him to address a
Chargé Laughlin.

formal note to Lord Grey
with reference to Order
in Council of July 7, 1916,
entitled "The Maritime
Rights Order in Council,
1916," and say the United
States Government deems
the rules therein set forth
as at variance with the
law and practice of na-
tions in several respects.

4988 Ambassador W. H. Page to Oct. 11 Encloses copy of a note
the Secretary of State.
from British Foreign Of-
fice dated Oct. 10, stating
if the rules cited in Order
in Council are not deemed
by the United States Gov-
ernment to be in accord-
ance with international]
law, they should be chal-
lenged in the Prize Court.

4502 The Secretary of State to Nov. 24 Instructs him to address to

Ambassador W. H. Page.

British Foreign Office note
to the effect that without
admitting that even in-
dividual rights when clear-
ly violated by Orders in
Council must be main-
tained by resort to local
tribunals, this Govern-

312818

Page.

1

2

2

No.

Declaration of London-Continued.

From and to whom.

Date.

1916.

Subject.

ment has no intention to
resort to British courts
for maintenance of such
of its national rights as
may be infringed by Brit-
ish Orders in Council.

PART II

Maritime Danger Zones and Mine Areas

1914.
Ambassador Gerard to the Aug. 7 Reports he is informed by
Secretary of State (tele-
gram).

German Foreign Office
that German ports are
strewn with mines and it
is requested that warning
be given shippers against
navigating in ports which
foreign forces might use
as bases.

Memorandum from the Aug. 11 Communicates telegram he
British Embassy.

received from his Govern-
ment informing him that
the Germans had indis-
criminately mined the
North Sea and that in self-
defense the British Ad-
miralty will adopt meas-
ures that will make
navigation even more per-
ilous.

Memorandum to the Brit- Aug. 13 The Department, replying to
ish Embassy.

the British memorandum,
states that the reported
act of Germany is in dis-
regard of article 1 of
The Hague Convention,
and sees no reason why,
as a defensive measure,
Great Britain should adopt
a similar course.

Memorandum from the Aug. 14 Communicates telegram from
the British Government in

British Embassy.

No.

Maritime Danger Zones and Mine Areas-Continued.

Subject.

From and to whom.

Date.

1914.

which they state they will
try to indicate certain
routes and channels for
trade to pass to the
Scheldt.

the Aug. 19 Points out that if Great Brit-
ain refrains from adopt-
ing the methods of Ger-
many in mining North
Sea, the result is that
Germany receives impu-|
nity unless the neutral
Powers can find some
means of making Germany
feel that she can not con-
tinue to receive trade and
supplies through neutral
shipping.

Memorandum from the Aug. 23 Quotes telegram from Brit

British Embassy.

ish Foreign Office warning
against German mines in
the North Sea and stat-
ing that the British Ad-
miralty have not so far
laid any mines during the
present war.

Memorandum from the Aug. 30 Quotes text of telegram
British Embassy.
from Sir E. Grey stating
that an Iceland trawler
was reported to have
struck a mine 25 miles off
the Tyne and sunk, and
stating that no British
mines have been laid.

The German Ambassador Sept. 10 States
to the Secretary of State.

no German port is blockaded and nothing stands in the way of neutral states' sea trade with Germany. Denies British reports that North Sea has been infested with mines by Germany.

Page.

6

7

8

9

No.

Maritime Danger Zones and Mine Areas-Continued.

From and to whom.

Date.

Subject.

1914.

476 Ambassador W. H. Page to Sept. 28 Transmits a protest made the Secretary of State.

Memorandum from the Oct.
British Embassy.

704 Ambassador Herrick to the Oct.
Secretary of State.

by the British Govern-
ment against the methods
pursued by the German
Navy in laying mines in
the North Sea.

2 Notification of British mine
area in North Sea.

9 Incloses copy in translation,
together with its inclo-
sure, of a note from the
Minister for Foreign Af-
fairs, giving the text of
notice relative to the use
of submarine mines in the
Adriatic Sea.

Ambassador W. H. Page to Oct. 28 States that a German mine
the Secretary of State
field has been discovered
(telegram).
off the north coast of Ire-
land and the British Ad-
miralty warns shipping
not to pass within 60
miles of Tory Island.

Ambassador W. H. Page to Nov. 2 Reports Sir Edward Grey
the Secretary of State
informs him mine fields
(telegram).
north of Ireland were laid
by Germans.

375 The British Ambassador to Nov. 3 Incloses copy of a telegram
the Secretary of State.
received from the British
Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs in which
notice is given that the
whole of the North Sea
must be considered a mili-
tary area.

Ambassador Marye to the Nov. 5 Reports official notification
Secretary of State (tele-
by Russian Government
of mined zone.

gram).

261 Ambassador Gerard to the Nov. 13 Incloses German reply to the
Secretary of State.
British protest against the
laying of German mines.