Since the outbreak of the present European War the British Government, exceeding the rights of the belligerent, have been interfering with the legitimate trade of neutral Powers with regard to contrabands of war and other matters. Protests have frequently been lodged by the Governments of Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Holland as well as of Japan. Now on the 21st of this month Prime Minister Chamberlain declared the intention of the British Government of inaugurating the so-called "de facto" blockade such as was adopted in the last Great War, namely, of preventing the export of German goods by neutral vessels, as a retaliatory measure against Germany on the assumption that the recent successive sinking of neutral vessels by mines in British waters is due to German action.
Even if granted that the aforesaid sinking of neutral vessels in British waters were due to German action, the proposed measure of the British Government not only exceeds the limits of reprisal recognized under international law, but violates also the undertaking of the British Government made to the Japanese Government not to interfere in any way with the exportation of German goods. The British measure inflicts really greater losses upon neutral Powers than upon Germany.
Just to what extent the British Government intend to prevent the exportation of German products is not yet clear in the absence of an Ordinance in connection with the matter. However, it is possible that the proposed measure of the British Government may cut off the importation to Japan of important articles from Germany, in which the Japanese Government can never acquiesce. Accordingly, instructions have been sent to Ambassador Shigemitsu in London yesterday, the 24th instant, to present a vigorous protest to the British Government.
In case the vital interests of Japan should be affected by the proposed British measure, Japan would be compelled to take appropriate counter measures.