The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-08-05
BRITAIN JUST|F|ES
SHIP SEIZURES
Continued from Page IL


1t may be noted in this connection
that at the time OF the Civil war the
United States found themselves under
the necessity Of declaring a blockade
Of some 5000 miles of coast line. q
military operation for which the num-
Der Of vessels available was at first
very small. It was vital to the cause
OF the United States in that great
struggle that they should be able to
cut OF the trade of the southern states
The difficulties confronting the federal
government were in part due to the
fact that neighboring neutral territory
afforded convenient centers from
which contraband could be introduced
unto the territory of their enemies,
and from which blockade running
could be facilitated. Your excellency
will no doubt remember how, in order
70 meet this difficulty, the old prin.
ciples relating to contraband and
blockade were developed and the doc
Urine OF continuous voyage was ap-
piled and enforced. under which goods
destined for the enemy territory
were intercepted before they reached
the neutral ports from which they
were to be reexported.
The difficulties which imposed upon
the United States the necessity of re.
shaping some Of the old rules, are
somewhat akin to those with which
the allies are now faced in dealing
with the trade of their enemy. Ad
jacent to Germany are various neutral
countries which afford her convenient
opportunities for carrying on her
trade with foreign countries.
AS a counterpoise to the freedom
with which one belligerent may send
his commerce across a neutral coun-
try without compromising its neutral
ity the. other belligerent may fairly
claim to intercept such commerce be-
fore 1t has reached, or after 1t has left,
the neutral state. provided, Of course.
that he can establish that the COM
merce with which he interferes is the
commerce OF his enemy and not com.
merce which Is bona fide destined for
or proceeding from the neutral state.
1t seems, accordingly. that II II be rec
ogniZed that blockade is in certain
cases the appropriate method Of later
cepting the trade Of an enemy country,
and If the blockade can only become
effective by extending r. 10 enemy
commerce passing through neutral
ports, such an extension Is defensib!e
and in accordance with principles
which have met with general accept
ance.
I What is really important in the
general interest is that adaptations
OF the old rules should not be made
unless they are consistent with the
general principles upon which an ad-
mitted belIigerent right is based. 1t
Is also essential that all unnecessary
injury to neutrals should be avoided.
With these conditions it may be safe
ly affirmed that the steps we are TAX
ing to intercept commodities on their
way to and from Germany fully com
ply. We are interfering with no
goods with which we should not be
entitled to interfere by blockade If
the geographical position and the con
ditions of Germany at present were
such that her commerce passed
through her own ports. We are TAX
ing the utmost possible care not to
interfere with commerce genuinely
destined for or proceeding from neu-
trail countries.
! The communication made by the
United States embassy on April 2
describes as novel and quite unprece-
denied feature of the blockade that
It embraces many neutral ports and
coasts and has the effect of barring
access to them. 1t does not appear
that our measures can be properly so
described. There are at this moment
many neutral ports which It would be
mere affectation to regard as offering
facilities only for the commerce Of
the neutral country in which they are
situated and the only commerce with
which we propose to interfere is that
of the enemy, who seeks to make use
OF such ports for the purpose of tran
sit to or from his own country.
The one principle which is funda-
mental and has obtained universal
recognition is that by means Of block
ade a belligeTent is entitled to cut
on by effective means the seaborne
commerce Of his enemy.
It is the same with contraband. The
underlying principle is we'll estab-
ilished, but as to the details there has
been a wide variety of view. AS for
iunneutral service-the very term is
of such recent introduction that many |
writer's Of repute on international law |
do not even mention 1t. II is impos-
.sible In the view Of his majestys |
government in these circumstances to |
maintain that the right of belliger-
emit to intercept the commerce Of his |
enemy is limited in the way suggest |
ed In your excellency's communica-
ton.
In actual practice we are not de-
tanning goods on the sole ground that
they are the property OF an enemy.
The purpose Of the measures we are
taking is TO intercept commerce on its
way from and to the enemy country.
His majesty's government have
been gratified TO observe that the |
measures they are enforcing have had
NJ dafrfnnanfaI affact nm the com /