Evening star., 1900-09-28
IA PACIFIC BLOCKADE
Russia's Proposed Action Against the
Six Naval P
ACTIVITY OF CHINESE FLEET
international Law in the Case Dis
cussed
SOME INSTANCE CITED

The report from st. Petersburg In the
London Times said to have been made on
the authority of the Russian naval staff
that, owing to the hostile attitude of the
Chinese fleet at Shanghai, Russia proposes
to blockade the Chinese naval ports Gre
ated much interest at the Navy Depart
ment and in government circles generally
today. As there is no statement to the eff
feet that it is to be preceded by a declara-
ton of war it is assumed the blockade
proposed comes under the designation in
international law of pacific blockade.
A pacific blockade is considered something
of an anomaly, and though Its justification
is not recognized by some writers on inter-
national law 1t mas been resorted TO on
several occasions during the past century,
and the majority of writer's now recognize
it as a measure of constraint short of war.
joint action of several powers, sometimes
of single power, in some cases against
al vessels and in other cases against only
the vessels of the nation concerned. The
penalties have generally been the seizure
and confscation of the property and cargo
of the offending nation, or seizure and de-
tention.
The Law I'm the Case.
The legal position of pacific blockade,
however, is so unsettled as to the attitu.e
Of the blockaders toward the vessels of
states not concerned that their course has
varied in almost every instance. Walker IN
his work on international law says that
if the trade of neutrals be affected they
may we'll protest, but that such a protest
is q matter of policy. To refuse to recog-
nize such a blockade might force the Of
Tending nation to legaliZe Its acts by lnsu-
tuting such blockade as measure or war
The first pacific blockade ever Instituted
hon, hn q n
then nominally subject TO Turkey, were
blockaded by the English, French and Rus
sian squadrons. New Grenada was block
AIDED by England In 1866, Mexico by France
in 1888, La Plata by France in 1S3S-4o, the
Greek ports by England in 1850, the coasts
of Formosa by France in 1884, Greece by
Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy and
Russia in 1885 and Crete in 1887 by the six
powers Of Europe.
Claim Denied by England.
When Formosa was blockaded by France
In 1884 the blockade was intended to in
clude neutral vessels liable to capture
and condemnation, Notwithstanding the fact
that France had not assumed the attitude
Of a belligerent. This position was as
sumed because France desired to continue
to coal at Hong Kong. England refused
on this occasion to admit that under the
circumstances France had the right TO cap
ture and condemn neutrals.
In 1897, when the European powers block
AIDED Crete, the ships Of neutrals were al
lowed TO enter and discharge cargoes. pro-
vided they were not intended for the use Of
Greek troops in the interior.
Prior to that in 1887 the Institute de
Droit International adopted a declaration to
the effect that a pacific blackade was per-
misSible only on condition that vessels un-
der foreign flags could freely enter block
AIDED ports, and that vessels of the Offend
ing nation which might be sequestered
when the blockade ceased should be re-
stored to their owners without compenSa-
ton.
The United States itself resorted to the
expedient of a pacific blockade three days
prior to the declaration of war with Spain
when, by executive order, certain Of the
Cuban ports were blockaded
Alleged Naval Activity of Chinese.
If the report from St. Petersburg should
prove to be correct the supposition is that
as it is based on the alleged activity Of the
Chinese fleet the blockade would be direct
ed against Chinese ports where there are
naval stores, dry docks coalng stations
There are but six of these ports on the Chi
nese coast not within the sphere of foreign
powers-Niuchwang where there Is mud
dock; Taku and Tien Tsin, where there are
Chinese government docks and yards
Shanghai Foochow, Annoy and Whampoa
where there is a granite dock owned by the
Chinese government