The sun., 1900-09-29
May BLOCKADE PORTS
Action That Russia Is Said to Propose
Taking In China.
WHAT WASHINGTON THINKS
Assumed That What Is Proposed Is
"Pncifc" blockade, Which
Has Been Resorted to on
Several Occasions.

Washington, Sept. 29.-A report from
st. Petersburg, said to have been made
on the authority of the Russian naval
staff, that, owing to the hostile attitude
of the Chinese feet at Shanghai, Russia
proposes to blockade the Chinese naval
ports" created much interest at the navy
department and in government circles
generally. AS there is no statement to
the effect that it is to be preceded by a
declaration of war it is assumed the
blockade proposed comes under the desig-
nation in international law of "pacifc
blockade"
A pacific blockade is considered some
| thing of an anomaly, and, though its JUS
tification is not recognized by some writ
ers on international law, it has been re-
| sorted to on several occasions during the
past century, and the majority of writer's
now recognize it as a measure of con-
straint short of war. 1t has been insti-
tuted sometimes by the joint action of
| several powers, sometimes of a single
| power, i'll some cases against all vessels
| and in other cases against only the yes
| sells of the nation concerned.
The penalties generally have been the
| seizure and confiseation of the property
and cargo of the offending nation or seiz-
ure and detention. The legal position Of
| pacific blockade however, is so unset
| tied as to the attitude of the blockadcrs
| toward the vessels of states not concern
| ed that their course has varied in almost
every instance.
| The first pacific blockade ever insti-
| tuted was in 1927 when the coasts Of
Greece, then nonlinally subject to Tur-
key, We're blockaded by the English,
| French and Russian squadrons. New
Grenada was hlockaded by England in
1866: Mexico by France in 1898; La
Plata by France iii 1S3S40; the Greek
| ports by England in 1850; the coasts of
| FOrmosa by France in 1854; Greece by
Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy
and Russia in 1856, and Crete in 1897 by
the six powers of Europe. The United
States itself resoited to the eXpedient Of
the pacific blockade three days prior to
the declaration of war with Spain when
by executive order certain of the Cuban
ports were blockaded.
six Ports Involved.
If the report from st. Petersburg should
| prove to be correct, the supposition is
that, rs it is based on the alleged activity
of tile Chinese fleet, the blockade would
be directed against Chinese ports where
there are naval stores, drydocks or coaling
stations. There are but six of these
ports on the Chinese coast not within the
spheres of foreign powers-naInely New
chwang, where there is a mud. dock;
Taku and Tien-tsin, where there are Chi
nese government docks and yards; Shang-
hai Fuchau, Annoy and Whanpoa, where
there is a granite dock owned by the
Chinese government.
a dispatch from Peking, Sept. %, via
Taku, Sept. %, says:
'"I'hc American legation has in its pos
session a subscription list of the Boxers
which shows the name of Prince Ching
as having made three subscriptions. The
list was discovered by Missionary
Whcny Friends of Prince Ching de-
clare that he was coerced into giving.
1T is reported by the French that a
patrol has been fired on outside the east
gate of the city. Otherwise everything is
quiet.
The Mantchoo assassin Of Baron Won
Kettcer was tried by court martial yes
terday. No new evidence was presented,
and the court decided that it would be
unjustified in pronouncing sentence upon
the prisoner, who. however, will be held
in the hope that further information will
be obtained"