The Portland daily press., 1896-03-07
CAUSES OF THE WAR OF 1912.
England's Contempt of International
Law.

England's Contempt of international
Law.
(Prof. Sloane in the Century,
War was formally declared by Russia,
Noysmbe T. and England retorted by
orders council issued on the 18th and
Goth Of the same month, which declared
that every continental port closed TO her
flag was thereafter in state of block
ade. Every neutral state, friend or foe,
was notified that she would exercise the
right of search to fullest extent and that
all neutral ships must put into English
harbors before proceeding to their desti-
nation, and pay duty in case Of re-ex-
portation of their cargoes. An exeep-
tion was made in the case Of the United
States, they being graclously permitted
to have direct commercial intercourse
with Sweden, but with Sweden only.
This. OF course, meant that neutral
states must either carry on England's
trade under their own flags or disappear
from the lea.
This measure was in utter contempt
of International law, even as then under
stood, fand was high-handed Outrage
against neutral powers, in particular
against the United States. 1t was treat
ing the ocean exactly as Napoleon had
treated the lands Of Europe. But it was
q powerful weapon. for il successfully en-
forced 1t would destroy Napoleon's CONT
mental system entirely. Accordingly, in
pursuance of his policy that fire must he
fought with fire, the emperor fulmina-
TED in return the terrible Milan decree
of December II, 1907. 1t declared that
any vessel which obeyed the orders of
the English al miralty or suffered itself
TO be searched, was and would be regard
ed as an English ship. 1t was essential,
therefore. that any nation desiring ex-
emption from the enactments of the Ber-
lin and Milan DEGREES on the one hand,
and of the English ;orders in council on
che other, must make itself respected
by force of arms. The Americans must
tither accept the humiliating terms OF
England or enter the French system and
seek in maritime war to capture the
continental markets for themselves.
Napoleon intended to force them into
the latter course, but he was ignorant of
American affairs. Jefferson was at that
time in his second term as president of
the United STATES The democratic party,
of which he was the leader, was vastly
more concerned with agricultural than
with commercial interests They were
afraid to increase the public debt, cared
little for the prosperity OF Few England
commerce, and. seeking to avoid The dill
emma arranged for them by England
and France, passed the notorious en- bar
go forbidding all foreign commerce
whatsoever. American ships must avoid
foreign waters, which. like the land,
had become the arena OF bloody duel in
which the United States were not inter-
ested, as the democrats fondly believed.
Exports to England fell in single year
from 40 to millions of dollars. In other
words, the embargo, though causing
great distress could not be perfectly en-
forced, since the eastern merchants con-
tinusd their humiliating submission TO
England for the sake of their lucrative
speoulations.
AT the same time the farmers were
suddenly awakened to the fact that in
the end they suffered as much under the
prohibition as the traders. In the result
ing aRitations Jefferson closed his pub
lie career without eclat. Madison wisely
secured modification Of the embargo
by the non-interyention act, which
opened all foreign commerce except that
with England and France. But the mer-
chants of New England were rebellious
and dissatisfied even with this. Fhe fed
eralists wanted navy and a place in
the European system; in other words,
fair share Of the worlds CARRYING trade
for the seafarers of the Atlantic coast.
Matters drifted on in general discontent
and mutual recrimination until 1910.
Napoleon in that year shrewdly an
nounced that he had abandoned his poll
cy, hut for all that he actually contin-
ued to enforce it. This empty pretense
of friendship embroiled the United
States still further with England, and
in the end led to the second war Tor
independence