Evening journal., 1915-03-17
GREAT BRrrAIN,s RETALIATION.

+ n retaliation upon the Germans for their submarine
against the commerce and non-combatants
Great Britain and her allies the threatened policy
Of starvation against Germany has been formally de-
olared through the British Government in proclama
ton signed in council by King George and issued from
buckingham Palace. It is the announced purpose to
cut Off all trade between Germany and neutrals and
also between neuras and neutrals when there is
to suspect that the commodities carried are for
the ultmate benefit oil the Germans.
Neutral nations confronted by an exceed
ngly important international question. It is all the
more vexed because it is and there
precedents to guide them in the they should
pursue. The Allies have refused positively TO accept
the suggestion OF the United States Government that
they abandon their starvation plan against Germany
in return for abandonment by Germany of its so-caed
submarine blockade
ntlmation already is given in Washington that this
country viii protest Great Britain France and Rus
sa against such interference with American
morco that other neutral nations will protest in
their behalf What effect such protests will have
remains TO be So much feeling has been aroused
against Germany because OF the submarine blockade,
the ruthless warfare made upon merchant ships and
non-combatants and the to neutral ships that
the allies are willing to go TO almost any extreme by
way of reprisal
The British proclamation does not call the present
step against Germany blockade. Nor does it define
any certain area in which the trade-severing opera
duged in, however. by the British Foreign Office and
British officials They call IL blockade OF the first
magnitude and assert It will be exceedingly efec-
tive.
II is not the plan conlscae the cargoes seized but
TO sell them and pay the proceeds to the Nor
is il the purpose TO conhscate neutral ships. They
simply are to compelled discharge their
in British or French ports after which they will be
permitted to proceed their several ways The pro-
clamation contains many flexible features One is that
nothing the order shall prevent the relaxation of its
provisions in respect the merchant vessels of any
country which declares that commerce intended
/ for or originating in Germany belonging to Ger
man subjects shall enjoy the protection of its flag It
also provides for a pass system which will enable
trail ships proceed TO neutral ports designated in
such passes
The whole purpose clearly is to starve Germany to
submission quickly possible. For the time being
the blockade does not apply TO Germanys allies, Aus
tria and Turkey. It will be extended to them, how
ever II it be discovered that they shipping large
quantities OF foodstus into Germany and imparng the
effectiveness of the blockade of the German coast
The preamble of the British proclamation shows
that the order forbdding all with Germany
is in retaliation for the German submarine blockade
now in effect That blockade is denounced being
in violation OF the usages of war in that it provides
that all British and allied merchant vessels shall be
destroyed irrespective of the safety and the lives o
the passengers and the crews and that neutral ship
ping shall be exposed to similar danger in view o.
the uncertainties of naval warfare
The whole intimation is that when Germany pro
claimed its submarine blockade it supplied TO Groa
Britain and her allies opening TO put their starva
tion policy into effect only against German soldiers
but also against German civilians.