The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-06

t0a. free ships make free goods
vii hardly at this dav he disputed
by The signstoriss of that solemn
agreement.
His Maiestys Government. like
the Government OF the United States.
have often and explicitly held that
sheir rights represent the best usage
~ warfare in the dealings OF beliig-
crents with neutrals at sea. In this
connection I desire TO direct attention
10 tile opinion Of the Chief Justice of
The United States In the case OF the
Peterhof. which arose ont OF the War
Between the states. and 10 the fact
hat the opinion was unanimously
sustained In the award OF the arbi-
tration commission Of 1871 to which
he case was presented at the request
~ Great Britain. From that Sine TO
TIE Declaration Of London. of 1909,
adopted with notifications hy the or
der IN council Of the 2srd OF October,
last, these rights have not been Sc
ripusly questioned by the British
Government. And no claim on the
part Of Great Britain OF any justifica-
tion or 1t following these clear rights
Of the United States and It's citi-
zens, "a neutrals. could he admitted
TIE admit Il would he to assume an
attitude Of unne utrality toward the
present enemies Of Great Britain
| which would be obviously nconsG-
tent with the solemn obligations of
this Government IN the present cir
cumstancss. and for Great Britain TO
MAX" such claim would be for her
To abandon and set at nsueht the
principles for which she has cons's-
! tently and earnestly commended In
othAr times and circumstances
The note of His Na'e@tv's prin-
/ cipai secretary Of state for foreign AFT
/ fairs, which accompanies the order In
! council and which bears the same
| date. notifies the Government OF the
! United States OF the esta blishment al
a blockade which Is, IL defined by the
terms Of the order In council. 20 in
elude all the coasts and ports OF Ger
| many and every port OF possible &C
cess TO enemy territory. But the move
] and quite unprecedented feature OF
( hat blockade, If we are to assume II
/ o be properly so defined. In hat ii EN-
/ braces many neutral ports and coun'
tries, bars access to them and sub
tects all neutral ships seeking to ap-
proach them to the same suspicion
that would attach to them were they
bound for ports OF the enemies OF
Great Britain and to unusual risks anc
penalties
Distinc1 INVASION of Solemn Rights
! 1t is manifest that such limita.
: tons, risks and liabilities placed upon
, the ships OF neutral power on the
high seas, beyond the right OF visit
and search and the right to prevent
! Inc shipment ~ contraband alread,
referred 10, are q distinct invasion OF
! he sovereign rights OF the nation
whose ships trade or commerce Il
intercered with
The government of the United States
/ is OF course not ebliplons to the
great changes which have occurred In
! the conditions and m cans OF naval war
/ fare since the rules hitherto governing
legal blockade were formul ated, II
might he ready TO admit that the old
form OF close" blockade. with It's cor
don of ship in the Immediate ofYing
Of the blockade ports. IL no longer
practicable in face of an enemy pas
sessing the means and opportunity ia
make an effective defense by tho use
Of submarines, mines and aircraft; but
! il can hardly be maintained that what
} ever form of effective blockade may
he made use of II is impossible to
conform at least to the spirit and prin-
ciples of establishing rules of war.
An Acceptable Blockade.
III the necessities OF the case should
seem to render II imperative that the
Gordon OF blockading vessels be ex-
. tended across the approaches to any
neighboring neutral port or country.
/ it would seem clfar that IL would stu
/ be easily practicable TO comply with
/ the well recognized and reasonable pro-
hibition OF International law against
/ the blockadine OF neutral ports by &C
cording free admission and exit TO all
lawful traffic with neutral ports
through the blockading Gordon. This
traffic would OF course, include all out
/ ward bound traffc 10 the neutral ports
/ country, and all inward bound traff1c
: 10 the neutral country except contra
I band in transit TO the enemy Such
I procedure need not conflict the block
AIDE since the right would remain with
| the biockading vessels TO visit and
search all ships either entering or
leaving the neutral territory which
I they were in fact. but not of right.
were invading.
Il The Government of the United
7 States notes that in the order In coun-
I ell His Majesty's Government gives
I as their reason for entering upon a
\ course Of action which they are aware
I is without precedent in modern war
I fare. h1a necessity they conceive them,