New-York tribune., 1902-12-18
"W4R BLOCKADE" NOW.
Interest in Reception Of 4me'1can
Ship at La Guayra.
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE.l


Washington Dec. 1f-Considerable specula-
ton exists in the official well as the popular
mind as to what reception the Red ID Liner
Caracas due at La Guayra on Saturday, Will re-
ceive Premier Balfour's declaration on the
question OF a pacific blockade" exactly coin
cides with the intimations had here to-day from
official sources that this government declined TO
admit the potency Of pacific blockade" as
measure to restrain American ships A pacific
blockade" was interpreted by high official OF
the State Department to-day as applicable only
to the ships of the nation bloekaded- Support for
this contention is contained in Wharton's Digest
OF the International Law of the United States
That this position communicated TO Great
Britain is natural inference from Mr. Balfour's
allusion to the possible objections of the United
States to ''pacile blockade" on this ground.
Now that state Of war has actually been
recognized to exist by the British Premier, the
question Of pacific blockade" vanishes and
much simpler proposition Of waEltke block
ade is to be faced. AS yet there has been no
declaration of such a blockade. but it is re-
garded as an imminent eventuality. The prob
lem is then raised to what attitude will be
taken toward the Caracas in the event Of the
declaration of a blockade before she arrives
1t is interesting and pertinent to recall the
proclamation of President Mckinley issued sew
eral days in advance OF the actual beginning OF
War. ana announcing a biockaoe OF certain
Cuban ports. This blockade. ct once made ef-
fective. forthwith shut out all neutral vessels
from Cuban ports, but allowed to all neutrals
in Cuban ports thirty days within which to
issue therefrom. Ships attempting to enter
were TO be warned once, and such warning was
to be indorsed on their register; on any further
attempt TO run the blockade the ships were TO
beseized as prizes and towed to American
port.
Despite this precedent, it was strongly tntt-
mated in official quarters to-day that the United
States Government hopes that the Caracas.
which sailed prior to any announcement Of
blockade will, even in event OF a blockade,
be allowed to enter and discharge her cargo
and then clear. It is pointed out that she has
near port to which she can go for coal ana
supplies, and strong hopes are expressed that
she will enter and leave La Guayra unmolested
Precedents of International law, however, nota-
bly, in the proclamation cited above, are too
numerous to mention in support of the stop
ping of a ship entering port under condllohs
similar to those which would exist IN Nenezue-
Ian waters II blockade is declared, ana any
attempt to make capital over the stopping OF
the Caracas would be clearly outside OF the
limits of international usage. II state or war
Is declared to exist as Premier Balfours state
ment implies, then blockade Is an lhcldeh' III
All this matter presents interesting problems.
but no foundation can be secured anywhere IN
official circles for the iingostc sentiments WIllcIl
have been expressed in various places ana at
various times over a possible interference with
the Caracas Orders will be issued tomorrow
to Admiral Dewey designating the places IN
which the various ships will pass the period or
recreation arranged for at the outset OF the
manoeuvres. It may be, as a result or the pres
emf Situation that ports like Trinidad. which
had originally been selected as places OF rem
devious for the ships, will be avoided. But, so
far could be learned in naVai clTcIes to-oey.
that was the sole precaution likely TO result
from the strained situation of affairs. Nor can
any alarming inference be drawn from the re-
Quest of Minister Bowen for dispatch boat
1t was suggested at the Navy Department TO-
dav that the Decatur might be sent TO La
Cuayra but this is solely 10 provide Tor him a
means of communication with this government
If the ca BILE is cut It is recognized tha the cut
ting of the cable is a natural concomltaht OF d
of war