The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-06

feet a< they stand. "A practical assertion
OF unlimited belliecreut rights over neu.
tr,i commerce. within Tin. whole Euro
mean are, and an almost unuualified de-
MIA, Of the sovereign ,igh,s of the ma
tjous nov at pea.p
.aThis 90, .srnuent takes IL for granted
that there can I've no question what those
rights ara. A nations so,sreiguty over
its own shirs and citizens under it, own
f,p nm tho high seas I'm time Of peace
is ~ ,ot,rS,. unlimited and that
Sovereignty suffers no ammunition in tim.
,r w,r oxc.,u In 20 ia, az ,bn nr,c,ice
.,d ,o,sc,, ~, .i,iilzed nations hav, i'm
,,.,i d, h,. "a, ,,..,,,ni,i,, az r.,.,,i, ,o,,,
,,.,ri.. do,a,,,,it.d riyhts y.t,icb I, 4.
ce,,,.,,-t.., mas. H.. oxarcis,,i L,. ,a,,o,.
-,
"''N" CIV ~
r.. u.,,,.u..
="
~ hclligercu, nation has been con-
coded tho right of visit and search and
the right OF capture and condemnation
IL upon examination a neutral vessel IL
found to he engaged in unneutral service
or to be carving cont rv,band If war in
tended for the enemy's government or
armaI forces
1T has been conceded the right TO es-
tab,issn ana maintain blockade of an
encmys ports and COASTS and 10 cap
ture and condemn enemy vessels taken
In trying 10 break Tn" blockade
1T IL even conceded the right TO de-
tain and take to It's own ports for ju-
sl;cial examination all vessels which II
suspects. for substantial reasons, to be
engaged in unneutral or contraban SER
vice and TO condemn them III the sus-
piclop is sustained
but such rights, long clearly defined
nth in doctrine and practice. have
l,i,berto been held to be the only per
hn ,,,A, ,t,-t.. ~
universal equality OF sovereignty on the
high seas as between bellIgcr rents and
nations not engaged In war
1T IL confidently assumed that his
Majesty's Government will not deny
that /, is "A rule sanctioned by general
practice that even though a blockade
should exist and the doctrine Of contra
hand as to unblockaded territory he
rigidly enforced, innocent SHIPMENTS
MAY he freely TRANSPORTED to and from
the United states through neutral coun-
tries to belllgerent territory without
being subject TO the penalties OF contra
be nd traffic of breach OF blockade. much
less TO detention, requ!sition or confisca-
ton.
Free Ships, Free GoOds,
- -
Moreover tne ruies OF tne Deciara-
eN'n OF farls OF Loeo--aH,ohk mem thht
rfee shlps MIKE free soo"s haruIs
a ms DAY DE uupu,en oy rue Ssna
tories OF that Solemn agreement:
his MaJestys "vernn~nt, IKE tne
Government or the United States' nave
orteh ana ehPlcltl! heiu 'haS these
rights represent cUe oest usage OF war
rare IN the neaiihss vi p'ihserehts with
neutrals AT sea
In TINS connection desite 10 dlrect
attention 10 tne opinion OF the Ch!ei
justice or the united STATES IN the case
the fe'erno.. which arose out OF the
cSii war ana 10 we lact 'hat tnat opih-
award of the arbitration commission OF
80, =, 60, pr,.at
- ~. ~. ~ ,n H. n.oia,, =,
yo,do, Il, Iaoa adon,,ud ,vI,b ,rodiac,
lions nv tho order In coupciI ~ IN. oad
: Of October last these riehts hay. not
been seriously questioned bv the british
Government And no claim on the mart
OF Great Britain of any Justification
Of II following these clear rights of the
United States and Its citizens as neu-
trails could be admitted.
ITO admit 1t would he to assume an
ATTITUDE OF unneutrality toward the pres
emit enemies OF Great britain. which
wou'u ue oTNiousis IhcohsIstent WIN
W ,"'l1 , VI ,'.Is N'o'eFh,
~. 60 p.ip, a.. 49, u'''. 80. - "uu '
.ouId he for har W ,ha - 80 80. -,
n,ugh, tha nr,n,,nIas Co.. ,,,n,oh 80 80
cnnsis,en,Iv nd earnestly co,tsnded a.
ether ,ines ara eircums,nnces
9Th. note OF Ills Natestv's nripcinal
Secretary OF stat. for Foreign ANairs
which accompanies the order in council
and which bears the same date. notifies
This Government OF the establishment
Of blockade which Is, II defined by
the terms OF the order in council. Ia
include all the coasts and ports Of Ger
many ana every port OF possible access
TO enemy territory
x,., p. .~,
"Rut the novel and quite unprece.
dented feature OF that blockade. II VT
are 10 assume 1t 10 he properly so de.
fined, is that II embraces many neutra
ports and countries. bars access TO then
and subjects all neutral ships seeking
10 approach them to the same suspicion
that would attach 10 them were the!
bound for ports Of the enemies OF Grea
Britain and 70 unusual risks and penal
ties.
1T Is manifest that such limitations
risks and liabilities placed upon IN,
ships of neutral Power on the hgi
seas, beyond the right of visit and searcf
and the right TO prevent the shipment o
.ontrsband already referred TO, are Z
distinct invasion % the sovereign right
of the nation whose ships, trade or com
...r,, c 49,, ,,,.,