The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-08-12
ENGLAND WILL. CONTINUE
TO ENFORCE HER BLOCKADE

! aging nelghDOring neutral territory
which afforded coveneient centers
from which contraband could be In.
troduced into Confederate territory
and from which blockade running
could be facilitated"
The note then refers to the case OF
the British ships Springbok, seized by
United States cruisers during the
Civil War while bound for the British
West lndieS because her cargo, il
was charged, was to be trans-shipped
to- the Confederate States. The SUI
preme Court Of the United States sus-
tanned the seizure against the con.
demnation of group of prominent
international lawyers, although the
United States and British Govern.
ments took the broader view and rec.
ognized the development Of the older
method Of blockade. No protest was
made by Great Britain. what is
really important, in the general in
terest?" says the note, "is that adapt
ations of the old rule should not be
made unless they are consistent with
the general principles upon which an
admitted belligcrcnt right is based
1t is also essential that all unneces-
sary injury to neutrals should be
avoided. With these conditions it may
be safely affirmed that the steps we
are taking to intercept commodities
on their way to and from Germany
fully comply. We are interfering with
no goods with which we should not
be entitled to interfere by blockade
If the geographical position and the
conditions Of Germany at present
were such that her commerce passed
through her own por;s. We rae talk
ing the utmost possible care not to
interfere with commerce genuinely
destined for or preceding from neu-
trail countries. Furthermore, we have
tempered the severity with which our
measures might press upon nnutrals
by not applying the rule which was
invarable in the old form of block
ade. that ships and goods on their
way to or from the blocl ,ded area
are liable to cOndemnatio
The note then review at some
, length the various forms in which
, blockades have been maintained tc
!, show there has been no uniformity OF
practive in very essential points, and
declares
, The one principle which is funda
mental and has obtained universal
: recognition is that by means Of block.
ade a bellgerent is entitled to cut off
by effective means the seaborne com
merce Of his enemy"
Consequently, Sir Edward argues,
it is impossible to maintain that the
right of a belligerent to intercept the
commerce Of his enemy can be lin.
tied in the way suggested in tho
American notes on the subject
Sir Edwards note closes with tho
observation that figures of recent
months show that the increased op-
portunities afforded by the war for
American commerce have more than
compensated for the loss of the Ger
man-Austrian markets. X We
shall continue to apply these measures
with every desire to occasion the
least possible amount OF inconveni.
cnce to persons engaged in Legitimate
commerce."
In the supplemental note. which is
n reply to the American caveat Civ
ing notice that the United States
would not recognize the ordcrs-in-
council in lieu Of international law,
Sir Edward Grey writes he does mot
understand to what divergence OF
views as to the principles Of law ap.
plicable in cases before the prize
court, the government Of the United
States refers, for | am not aware OF
any differences existing between tho
two countries as to the principles OF
law applicable in cases before such
courts"
If the United States should be dis
satisfied with decisions of British
prize courts as sustained by the privy
council, that the British government
is prepared to concert with the United
States "n order to decide upon the
best way of applying the prin-
ciple to the situation which would
then have arisen"
TO the American note in the case
Of the steamer Nechos, which sum
marily demanded the expeditions re.
lease Of the American owned goods
detained under the orders-in.council
"the international invalidity OF which
tho government Of the United States
regards as plainly illustrated by the
present instance" Great Britain re
nlies that while these acts Of the
German government continue csink.
ing neutral as wcll as british mer
chant ships irrespective Of destination
or ORIGIN Of cpr"o and without proper
regard for safo'y Of rasscn"crs or