Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-06
Great Britain Silent Still

NJ o answer yet has come out of Britain In
Y response to this country's suggestion
OF measures that will lead to the safeguard
ing Of neutral rights and, incidentally to the
alienation Of some of the horrors of war It
will he strange. however. if Britain mani
tests any disposition to abandon the attitude
that. without reference to our note, she has
deliberately assumed
In brief. she has declared that all supplies;
of every character consigned to Germany will
be held subject to seizure This decarat ion
of policy. made by Premier Asquith i'm the
House of Commons. and communicated to
neutral nations. has not been followed by the
order IN council necessary to make 1t cffcc-
i've. nor mas there been any eNpanaiic! OF
the means that Great Britain will employ
On its face. and without amplitication, the
British policy wears the aspect of "A mere
paper blockade. Mr.. AsQuith has not an
nounced purpose to effect an actual block
ade CT the German coast nor is it likely that
a blockade with the essential qualities of
effectiveness and continuity could be estab-
lShed. This country and the world arc per
mttcd 10 think that Britain will seize neu-
trail vessels on the high seas whenever their
cargoes directly or Indirectly, are designed
for German use.
France, which has Joined with England in
the threat Of reprisals for Germany's sub
marine warfare, appears to have clear per-
ceriion nevertheless. of the wrong to neutral
nations that is meditated From Paris come
suggestions that the allies pay out of their
war funds for whatever cargoes are seized
though the supplies arc not needed. cannot
be rcsold, and must be taken over at a loss
Even in England there appears to be no
thought that there will be seizure without
compensation.
If we were the entirely commercial and
dolar-oving people that some Of our foreign
critics are fond OF picturing there might be
found in the French proposals way out OF
the whole difficulty. 1t would be necessary
only to load vessels with surp,us mer-
chandisc. consign them to Germany, permit
their seizure and detention and collect the
profits. Perhaps the profits would be larger
because The voyage to some extent would
be shortened.
But America does not take that view of
national honor and national good faith No
American government-certain not the
present governmcnt-would ever be induced
to sell its conntrys brthrght OF freedom and
independence for such Il sorry mess of
pottage.
british determination, on the other hand,
Is evident There is every reason to believe
that the announced purpose to starve out
Germany will he followed reentlessly. So
great Is the popular wrath produced by Ger
man destruction OF unarmcd merchantmen
that the Asquth Cabinet could not survive
failure to make swift and stern reprisals.
or course, want no war with anybodv
ana III the present condition of commerce and
industry the declaration of an embargo would
nave = most serious and distressing effect
For January our exports TO Great Britain
amounted to S99.757.513; to France S34
80 u, and to Canada, Australia and Brit
ish INDIA combined, about $50, 200, 900 more
Altogether, these countries took about GO
per cent OF our total export trade. and our
imports from them were correcnopd;nol,
large The proportion IS increased by the
Auction OF figures representing the trade
aone with other British possessions, which
necessarily would be included within an ON
bargo's terms.
u is serious and critical question. An
embargo would mean great loss To orr
commerce and to American citizcns-a loss
that should not be incurred save on consid-
crations OF the gravest necessity II would
D" better than war, however and better also
IMAM the sacrifice Of our self-respcct