The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-21
TODAY IN HISTORY
MONDAY. NOVEMBER 2t, 1910.
Napoleon's Famous Berlin Dscree-No

Vember 21t
On November u. 1906. Napoleon issued
his famous Berlin decree, which had as
Its object the shutting out OF England
from all connections with the continent OF
Europe, This decree decla red England In
state Of blockade and prohibited all
commerce or correspondence with them.
II was one OF the most radical meas
ures ever taken by the French general
II went eNon still further than block
adc by declaring that every Engishman
found in country occupied by French
troops or by their allies was declared
a prisoner OF war; all merchandise be-
longing TO an Englishman was made law
ful prize and all trade In English goods
was entirely prohibited.
NO ship coming directly from England.
or from British colony. was allowed
TO enter any port, and any ship seeking.
by false decla tIons, TO evadc this regu-
ation was confiscated with its cargo as
If British property.
Napo]eon's commercial policy came to
be known as the continental system, and
1t resulted in the springinE up upon the
continent OF many branches OF manufac-
ture to the loss Of England. But on
the other hand, the price of foreign
goods rose to an extraordinary height.
enabling few merchants TO make for
tunes, but seriously affecting the daily
comfort OF the middle classes. un the
whole, the continental system. both
ponticalIy and economically, was mis-
take. Russia abandoned IL in 1910 and
win the breaking up of Napoleon's power
the system collapsed entirely. On the
Enslish side the enforcement Of the or
derS IN council which the English Is
sued In retaliation, gave offense to the
United States, and was one OF the prin-
cipal causes OF the War of 1912 In fact.
the Berlin decree was the start OF mis-
chief on all sides.
In his Berlin decree Naporeon cb,ryed
England with having set at noueht The
dictates of International law. with hav-
ing made prisoners of war OF private In
81 .I,1
crews out OF merchant ships CHARGES and
counter-ch charges followed fast upon the
Berlin decree and the order il, counrU
and went so far on the part OF Napoleon.
as 10 order the seizure and burning Of
all British goods found in France Coz
many, Holland. Italy, Spain and In every
place occupied by French troons Tn
every direction boniires were made OF
BRUSH goods. And SO eXacting were the
French that when Frankfort exhibited the
least hesitation in carrying out the de-
cree, French troops were sent 10 eve
cute the order
The result OF all This was That +h. .,
countries met on the common frontier
the coast Line. In deadly strife In which
no weapon was drawn The Imperial
soldiers were turned into coast guards
men 10 smut out Great Britain from her
markets; the British ships became reve
nue. cutters 10 prohibit the trade ot
france The neutral carrier. pocleted
MS pride and offered his service to eithe,
MN as taking part In hostilties
Napoleon. with despotic simplicity. an.
nounced clearly his purpose of ruinIne
England through her trade, and his min.
lstrN really needed no other arsun1ent
Than his avoWals. The order In coun.
ell was finally withdrawn in June 1912
but TOO late TO avert the war with Nh.
United States. Napoleon never revoked
his Berlin and Milan DEGREES. altboucf
| by trick he induced an over-eaee
president OF the United States to believe
that lie had done SO
November Il is the birthday of Josisl
Bartlett. the New Hampshire statesman
and patriot G7o0; George Howard, IN,
Maryland governor and politician GTSa)
Jacob Sleeper. merchant and phila n
| thropist 0S02): William G. AueeII, in
| Eentor and manufacturer GS1D Levi
| Henry Morgan, the Father Of American
An,hropology. 0Sls): John r. Miller, tn
| California soldier and statesman Q83D
| and Mary Johnston popular America,