The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-06
NO PROTEST SENT TO POWERS
UNITED STATES DEEERS ACTION
ON BLOCKADE QUESTION.
America Now Awaits Answers to Her
Note to Britain and Germany-Of-
ficials Interested in Recent Anglo
French Communication.

washington, March 2.-While Pres !
ident Wilson indicated today that the !
United States would inquire Of Great
Britain and France as to how thew
propose to carry out their announced
determination to prohibit commercial
intercourse by sea with Germany.
such action, it was stated later, prob
ably would be deferred until replies
We're received from Great Britain and
Germany TO the American proposals
, looking to a cessation of submarine
warfare on merchant ships and un-
restricted passage of foodstuffs to
civilian populations.
Germany's reply, as described in
press dispatches, created a favorable
impression here, but until the text is
received no official comment will be
made.
Great Brtain's decision will depend
to some extent on the attitude Of her
allies. There have been official inti-
nations, however, that England would
fiatly reject the proposal for the ship
ment OF foodstuffs and conditional
contraband to Germany.
The Anglo-French note outlining
the intention Of the allies to stop all
commerce between Germany and neu-
tral countries occupied the attention
Of official Washington today. Presi-
dent Wilson told inquirers that he
could not define the attitude Of the
American government because he had
not thoroughly digested the contents
OF the communication. He pointed
out that the notes merely had defined
in general terms a policy to be pur-
sued by the allies without stating the
means Of enforcing that policy. To
make this clear for the United States,
the president added, might necessitate
further correspondence with Great
Britain and France.
- The president made clear his belief
that while the CONDITIONS war
might have changed, no nation had
right to change the rules Of war.
From this it was inferred that the
American government would insist on
position frequently expressed by it's
officials, that whatever might be the
violations of the customs of war as
between belligerents, this could not
affect the status of international law
as between the United States and
countries with which she is at peace.
Some high officials thought that if
England proclaimed a blockade and
made it effective there could be no
legal objection from the United States,
but as the present step contemplates
the interruption of all commerce with
out specifying the zone of operations,
the general belief was that vigorous
protest would be entered.
The possibility that the allies re-
ply to the informal proposals of the
United States may introduce a basis
for further negotiations along lines
that would make unnecessary the ban
the allies have declared on neutral
commerce is recognized by officials
generally as an important factor in
the future course Of the American
government. If the reply from Eng
land is to be long delayed, however,
there is belief in many quarters that
the United States might send it's pro-
test to Great Britain in a few days.
Difficulties Of the present situation
suggest similar conditions of a century
ago. Under what was known as the
continental system" Napoleon first
issued his famous Berlin decree. de-
claring the British Isles in state Of
blockade. Britain replied prohibiting
neutral vessels from entering ports
controlled by France or her allies.
New French measures followed. and
then the French in 1907 declared
that any vessel that had been search
ed by an English ship. had been
sent on n voyage to England or paid
any duty to the English government
was regarded as "denationalizcd" and
treated as English.
! Most European countries were COM
PEELED by Napoleon to Join in the
declaration against Great Britain.
Russia refused and went to war.
Although a state of blockade was pro-
nln
any case to maintain one. 1t was
against such a policy as this that the
United states protested before going
TO war With England in 1872.
WILL ABANDON IMPEACHMENT