The Washington times., 1910-07-22
New Orleans Exporters No
tilted BlueheldS CargoeS
VIII Be Protected.
DEGREES OF MADRIZ
HELD INEFFECTIVE
Port HELD Under Principles Of
international Law 70
Be CPen-

The State Department today sent teie-
grams so scven american firms engaged
in czvort business at New Orleans ad-
visiu- thsm that American property
would be protected even though bound
10 1he port of BIEefel5s. Nicaragua. now
uoruiraIIv IlCckaded By Madriz-
Ia Its telegram, the state Department
today said-
Official reports Just received from
BIucfeldE seem 90 indicate that the re-
ported action of Norway may have been
based uDon erroneous Information In
the first place II IS now a well settled
and recognized principle or international
law that ports in possession Of hostile
forces cannot Re closed to foreign com
TerCe by mere executive decrees Of
closure unless such DEGREES are followed
and supported by effective bioc'ladeS-
1T would, therefore, seem that the
AIadriz DEGREES Of October Is and May
Il, closing the port at Bluedelds, are. in
the absence OF Elective blockade at that
port, devoid of effect OF influence upon
mutual commerce
Law Held To Be Violated
IN the second place. il would appear
that even should a foreign government
recognize the right Of blockade by a
ship Of the character OF the Venus, new
errheless Il is notorious that the Venus
has, since her appearance at that port,
been absent from BIuefelds for long
periods. on which occasions she is re-
ported 10 have violated the rules Of in
ternationaI law by bombarding other
unforrifed NicaragUan towns, and also
TO have committed other acts Of hostiI-
ity. all so far FROM her base at Blue
fields it would appear clear that were
the contemplated blockade at BiuefeIds
ever effected IL has long since ceased 10
be so. and is. therefore, without value
IN International Law. BIuefelds now be-
ing under the circumstances an open
port
The action Of the State Department
therefore in declaring BluedeIds an open
port means that the ships and carEoes
Of this country viii receive fun Drotec-
ton.
Il was stated at the department today
that no new position hao been assumed
BY this Government. but that the pos
ton formerly taken would be main
tanned
Former Message Recalled
On this point the telegram Forwarded
by The department today says
rs for the protection OF American
chartered ships and American CarE0es
by the United States. you are referred
70 the telegram from the Secretary Of
State TO the BIUedeIds Steamship Com
pauy under date of November Is, 1859
" If the announces blockade or in
vestment OF the [icar-guan port Of
GTeytOvu Is effectively maintained and
the requirements Of international law.
including warning 10 approaching yes
selS. are observed this Government
would not De disposed TO interfere -
Another telegram OF the department
states This Government denies the
right OF either faction 10 seize Amer
lean owned vessels or property with
out recOmuenSe TO the owners
a conference was held this morning
between Acting Secretary Of State WI
son and ". T de Nunthe de MOrEen-
stierbe. the Norwegian c1a-S-- when
the position Of this Government was
made clear for the benefit OF the Nor
gvegian government
il was also announced at the DEPART
Eent that Ire resignation ef Vice Con
SUI Clancy at RluefeIGs had been ac-
CeUted TO-DAY II was learned Yesterday
that Clancy had slso he5n acting as
vice consul for Norway and that he had