Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-08-04

NCOlllnNtu FROM rage OnC.)
which he has beer guilty during the
present struggle
About German Activities.
Sir Edward then refers to alleged
atrocities i'm Belgium, poisoning OF
wells i'm German southwest Africa, use
of poisonous gases against the allied
troops in Flanders and finally the
sinking of the Lusitania to show
how Indispensable it is that we
should leave unused no justifiahle
method of defending ourselves
Coming to the question of the allied
blockade of neutral ports the note
continues;
I'm the various notes which ! have
received from your eNcellency, the
right of a b]elligcrent to establish a
blockade of the enemy ports is ad-
mitted. a right which has obviously
no value save insofar as it gives
power to a helligcrcnt to cut off the
sea-bornc exports and imports of his
enemy. The contention which |
understand the United States gov
eminent now puts forward Is that
if "a helligcrent is so cirCumstanced
that his commerce can pass through
adjacent neutral ports as easily as
through ports in his territory,
his opponent has no right to inter-
fcrc and must restrict his measures
of blockade in such a. manner as to
leave such avenues of commerce still
open to his adversary. This is a
contention which his majesty's gov
'crumcnt feel unable to accept and
which seems to them unsustainable
either in point of law or upon prin-
ciplcs Of international equity.
Submarines Bring Changes.
"Thcy are unable 10 admit that a
|beIigercnt violates any fundamental
principles Of international law by APP
pIving a blockade i'm such a way as
tn cut off the eucmy's commerce
with foreign countries through neu-
trail ports. If the circumstances
render such an application of the
principles Of blockade the only
means of making it effective. The
government of the United States, in
deed. intimates its readiness TO take
into account the great changes which
have occurred i'm the conditions me
means of naval warfare since the
rules hitherto governing legal block
AIDE were formulated and recognizes
that the form Of close blockade with
IFS Gordon of ships in the imme-
dIate offiuE Of the blockaded ports
is no longer practicable in the face
of an enemy possessing the means
and opportunity to make an eiiec-
tive defense hy the use of sub
marines, mines and aircraft
"Thc only question, then, WhVch
can arise i'm regard to the measures
resurtcd to for the purpose of carry
out "a blockade upon these eN-
tended lines is. whether 20 use your
cNucIlcncy's words. they conform TO
tn, spirit and principles Of the cs-
So nee Of the rules of war and we
shall be content to apply TINS test TO
the action which We have taken inso-
far as IL has ueccssitatcd interference
with neutral commerce.
CUES Civil War Case.
Sir Edward Grey then refers TO the
American civil war blockade Of 5000
miles Of coast with q small number Of
vessels and recalls how the United
States finally took recourse TO block
aiding "neiEhboring neutral territory
which afforded convenient centtrs
which ~coutrahand could be in
troduccd into confederate territory
and from which blockade running
could bc facilitated"
Your cNcclloucy will no doubt re
member" wrote Sir Edward, how,
i'm order to meet this new difficulty,
the old principles relating TO contra
band and blockade were developed
and the doctrine Of continuous voyage
applied and enforced under which
Goods destined for the enemy terri
tory were Intercepted before they
reached the neutral ports from which
were TO be r~,-cNpurtcd.
Must blockade Ncutrals.
The difficulties which imposed
upon the United states the necessity
for rCshapiug some of the old rules
are somewhat akin to those with
which the allies are now faced in
dealing with the trade Of their enemy.
Adjacent to Germany are various
neutral countries which afford her
convenient opportunities for carrying
ON her trade with foreign countries.
Her own territories are covered by a
network Of railways and waterways
which enable her commerce TO pass as
conveniently through ports in sue
neutral countries rs through her own
a blockade Limited to enemy ports
would leave open routes by which
every kind of German commerce
could pass almost as easily as through
the ports in her own territory.
Rotterdam is indeed the nearest
outlet for some Of the industrial dis
tricts Of Germany. Il seems. accord
ingly. that II II be recognized that
a blockade is In certain cases the
appropriate method Of "intcrCeptinE
the trade Of an enemy country and If
the blockade can only become effec-
tive by extending II TO enemy com
merce passing through neutral ports,
an extension is defen%lble and in