Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-14
THE BLOCKADE AGAIN.
Mr. Mason b - RasseN.


q UPPER SEYAoUR ST, PoRTMAF SQUARE,
Janusry -, 1903
! Ny LORD: In a communication which had
the honor TO address to your l0rdship dated on
! the 9Th July ultimo, said:
81 am Instructed by a recent dispatch from The
! Secretary Of State Of the Confederate States Of
America TO bring to the attention of your lord
/ ship what would seem 60 be an addition engrsfs-
/ ed by her Maissty's government on the priu-
/ eiple Of the law Of blockade, az established BY
/ the Convention Of Paris in 1856, and accepted
/ by the Confederate States Of America at the IN
vitation of her Majesty's government
The addition to the principle of blockade
referred to is stated in my communication to
have appeared in a letter from your lordshiD to
Lord Lyons OF the 18th Of February preceding,
! then recently laid before Parliament
l stated further in that communication. quot
ing from the instructions of toe President:
% If such be the Interpretation placed by
Great Britain on the treaty Of 1856 It is but lust
that this Government should be officially in
formed"
Aud, afst pointing out the force and effect
sscribed by the President to this modification of
the principle Of blockade to the prejudice Of the
interests Of the Confederate States, my oom-
muniestion to your lordship proceeded as fol-
lows;
Il have therefore, the honor to request for
the Information Of my government, that your
iordship viii be good enough to solve the doubt
entertained by the President of the Cosfede-
rate States as to the construction placed by the
government of her Majesty on the text Of the
convention Of Paris, as accepted by the gov.
sTnmsnt Of the Confederate States in the terms
herein before eited-that is to say, whether q
blockade is to be considered as effective when
maintained at an enemy's port By force sufi
Gent 20 create an evident danger of entering or
leaving it, and not alone where sufficient really
to prevent access
To that communication I vas honorsd only
by reply FROM the Hon. A II Lsyard, dated
at the foreign Office ca the 10sh Of JAY. inform
ing me that he was directed By your lordshp to
acknowledge its reoepf; nor have I since been
honored BY any communication from your lord
ship furnishing an answer to the specific and
important inquiry thus made under instructions
from my government
Od the Ash Of August following transmitted
to the Secretary of State of the Confederate
States, copy Of my communication to your
lordshlp Of the lth Of July, together with a copy
of the reply Of Mr.. Layard, aud asked for fur
theT Instructions made necessary By the silence
Of the foreign Office in regard to the inquiries
thus submitted
have now, within few days past recsived
dispatch from the Secretary Of State, in reply
to mine of the 4th Of August the tsaor Of
which am directed to communicate to your
lOrdship.
am instructed to say that, from the parery
thus submitted, it would appear 60 the govern |
ment Of her Majesty, after having invited the /
government Of tbe Confederate States to concur /
in the adoption Of certain principles of interuz 4
tOnal law, and after having obtained its assent, /
assumed in official dispstehes to deTogate from !
the principles thus adopted. to The prejudice Of 1
the interests and rights Of the Confederaey and 1
that upon being approached, in respectful and !
temperate terms, VIII request for exploration 1
on mstteT Of such deep concern to the Oonfed- /
erstion that Cabinet refused a reply.
Her Msjesty's govern melt Cau have no /
just ground for refusing she explanation asked 4
because OF the absence Of the recognition Of the 4
Of the Confederate States bv the
other nations Of tbe world. It was not in the
ensTaoSef OF fec0gnlzed ia1uEIgEI1gnE -IEzT5rIs
but ia that Of . recognized belligerent, that the
two leading powers Of Western Europe sp-
preached the government OF those States with /
proposition for the adoption Of certain prinei- l
pies Of public law, as rules which shall govern
the mutual relations between the people Of the
as belligerents, and the nations of
Europe as Deutrals, during the pending war
Two Of these rules were for the special hsneet
Of Great Britain ~ one cs sbOss neutral powers.
It was agreed that Der fsg should cover enemy's
goods, and that her goods should be safe under
Tie enemy's flag
The former Of these two rules conceded 70
her, as neutral, rights which she had sternly
refused when herself a beligersnt, with sim
gle temporary waiver thereof in her late war
with Russia To these stipulaions ia her favor
he government of the Confederate States viii
adhere with serupulous fidelity. 0a Tbs part Of
her Maiesty's government it was agreed that no
1iociade should be co lsideTed binding unless
maintained hY fofce suf1cient really to- prs
vent access to the coast of the enemy" and yet
IN the first occasion which arose for the applies
ion Of this, the only stipulation that could be Of
practical benefit 70 the Confederate States dur
ng the war, her Majesty's Seeretsry Of State for
ofeigu affairs, IN an official Dispatch published
% the world, appends q qualification which in
fleet destroys its whole valas, and when ap
Dealed TO for an explanation Of this apparent
breach Of an existing solemn agreement between
.he neutral aud the belligsrent, declines al an
swer
In Visw Of these facts, I am instructed by the
President to address TO- your lordship, IS her
Asjesty's Secretary Of State for foreign affairs,
his formal proles. on the part Of the govern
mant Of the Confe1erate States against the ap-
parent (if not exseusedl purpose Of her Msjss-
ty's government to change or modify, to the
prejudice Of lhs confsdeEaey, the doctrine IN rs-