The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-02


poets ike performance on the part of
France. He Considers it peculiarly incum-
bent ON him to request such Explanations
from her government, as will dissipate all
doubt OF what he may eXpectfrom it In flu
ture, on this and every other question de-
pending between the two nations.
BY the Act of May Isl, 1910. it was de-
clared, that in case G.. b. OF France should,
before the Sd day of March, 1911, so revoke
or modify her edicts as they should cease
to v,olate:the neutral commerce of the u. S.
which fact. the President should declare
by proclamation. and if the other nation
should not, within three months thereafter,
revoke or modify its edicts in like manner,
then the 8, a, 6,7, S, 9, 10 and 18th sec
tons of the act entitled " An act to inser-
dict the commercial intercourse between the
United States and G. Britain and France,
oec should from and after the expiration
OF three months, from the date Of the procla-
m alton aforesaid, be revived, and have full
force and effect, so far as relates to the do
minions. colonies and dependencies, and to
the articles the growth. produce. or manu-
facture OF the dominions, colonies and de-
Tendencies OF the nation thus refusing or
neglecting to revoke or modify its edicts, in
the manner aforesaid,
This act having been promulgated and
made known to the governments of G.. B. &
bearing date on the 5th August 1919, ad-
dressed to the minister plenipotentiary of the
=. ). at Paris, declared that the DEGREES of
Berlin and Milan were revoked, the revoca-
ton to take effect on the LIST of November
following but that this measure was adop-
ted in compliance with the law of 1st May,
1910. to take advantage of the condition con.
tanned IN it, & in full confidence that that con-
dition would be enforced against G. Britain,
clN ri 4 mot 49,,
and renounce the new principles ofblockade.
This declaration of the Emperor of France
was considered sufficient ground for the
PRESIDENT to act on it was explicit as toits
OBJECT and equally so as to its import. The
DEGREES of Berlin and Milan which had vio-
lated our neutral rights, were said to be re-
pealed, to take effect at a subsequent day,
at no distant period, the interval apparent
iy intended to allow full time for the commu-
nlcation or the measure to this government
The declaration had, too, all the Formally
which such an act could admit of, being thro'
the othcial organ on both ,sides---from the
French minister of foreign affairs, to the mi
MISTER plenipotentiary of the u. States at
Paris IS -,~.sgg 's ,-t:, - -,
In COZ sequence of this note, from the
French minister of foreign affairs, of the 5th
August. 1910, the President proceeded, on
the I'd: November, to issue the proclama-
same year, to declare that all the restric-
tons imposed by it, should cease and be
discontinued, in relation to France s. her de-
pendencies.-Andi in confirm alton, of the
proclamation OF the President, the Con-
gress did. on the I'd March, 1911, pass
an act, whereby the non importation sys-
TEN, provided for by the 5, 4, S, 6, 2, 8,
6, 10 and 18th sections of the act, entitled
- An act to interdict the commercial inter-
haf he II,,,f c. Il
Britain and France and their dependencies, -
was declared to be in force against Great
Britain, her colonies and dependencies, with
|a provision IN favor of such vessels or
merchandise as might be seized before
1T was known that Great Britain had re-
voked or modified her edicts, within the
time and manner required by the said act,
II such should be the case and with pro-
vision, also, in favor of any ships OF cargoes
owned wholly by citizens of the u. States,
which had cleared out for the Cape of Good
Hope, or for any other port beyond the same,
prior to the second day Of November, 1910.
Both OF these provisions were, in strict JUS
tlce and good faith, due to the parties to be
effected by the law !; they were also con-
formable to the spirit of the arrangement, to
execute which the law was passed. AS
Great Britain did not revoke or modify her
edicts, in the manner proposed, the first pro-
vision had no effect
will now inquire whether France has
performed her part of this arrangement,
is understood that the blockade of the
British isles is revoked. The revocation
having been officially declared, and no YES
sci trading to them having been condemned
or taken on the high seas that we know of,
1t is fart conclude that the measure is re-
llnquIshed. 1t appears, too, that no Ameri-
can vessel has been condemned in France
Tor having been visited at sea by an English
ship, or for having been searched or carried
into England or subjected to impostions
there. On the sea, therefore, France is I'M
derstood to have changed her system.
Although such is the light in which the
Conduct OF France is viewed, in regard to
the neutral commerce of the United States
since the lst OF November last, it will never
theless, be proper for you to investigate full
~ the whole subject, and to see that moth
ing has been, or shall be omitted on her part
IN future, which the u. States have a right
to claim.
Your early and particular attention will
be drawn to the great subject of the com
mercial relation which is to subsist in future
between the u. S. and France. The Pres
ident expects that the Commerce of the u
States will be placedn the ports of France
on such a footing as to afford for it a fair
market, and to the industry and enterprise
OF their people reasonable encouragement.
An arrangement to this effect was looked
for immediately after the revocation of the
DEGREES but it appears from the documents