Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

APPENDIX II. 165

would make it their first aim to minimize the inconveniences" resulting from the measures taken by the Allied Governments,” would, in practice, not unjustifiably infringe upon the neutral rights of American citizens engaged in trade and commerce.

It is, therefore, a matter of regret that this hope has not been realized, but that, on the contrary, interferences with American ships and cargoes destined in good faith to neutral ports and lawfully entitled to proceed have become increasingly vexatious, causing American shipowners and American merchants to complain to their Government of the failure to take steps to prevent an exercise of belligerent power in contravention of their just rights. As the measures complained of proceed directly from orders issued by the British Government, are executed by British authorities and arouse a reasonable apprehension that, if not resisted, they may be carried to an extent even more injurious to American interests, the Government of the United States is obliged to direct the attention of His Majesty's Government to the following considerations i—

». Without commenting upon the statistics presented by His Majesty's Government to show that the export trade of the United States has increased in volume since the war began, further than to point out that the comparative values fail to take into account the increased price of commodities resulting from a state of war, or to make any allowance for the diminution in the volume of trade which the neutral countries in Europe previously had with the nations at war, a diminution which compelled them to buy in other markets, I am instructed to pass directly to the matters which constitute the specific complaints of my Government.

DETENTION OF VESSELS.

3. First : The detentions of American vessels and cargoes which have taken place since the opening of hostilities have, it is presumed, been pursuant to the enforcement of the