Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-06
British Contention, Carried Into
Practice, Would Be Invasion
of Rights Of Neutral Nations,
Says Mr. Bryan,
BLOCKADE POLICY HAS
NO KNOWN PRECEDENT
United States Refuses to Toll
crate Interference With
Ships or CargOes Consigned
TO Neutral Ports.

ef NoAhira 4oUHask SFerthk tMtGHo sFng4
Washlnston. April THE United
states government today made public
its note 10 Great Britain announcing
that Il could not admit either the
right " the allies or their claims for
Justification in placing an embargo
en- all commercial Intercourse be-
tween Germany aud neutral countries.
To admit a." SAYS the communi-
cation. would be 10 assume an at
fiiude II Immortality toward the
present enemies ~ Great britain
which would BE- obviously inconsistent
With the solemn obligations 0f this
government iu the present cIrcum-
stances and for Great Britain to make
such claim would be- Tor her "a
abandon ana SCI al naught the prin-
Giles for which she has consistently
and earnestly euntended in other
times and circumstance
The note reviews al length the le-
gal phases ~ a blockade ~ beliiEer-
ent territory and virtual blockade 81
neutral coasts. In conclusion the
Z United states states It's expectation
that Great Britain after having con-
sldered. the possibilities 81 serious
Interruption II American trade un-
{ der the order-in-cOuncil. viii take
the steps necessary 10 avoid them and
IN the event that they should unhap-
pily occur. will be prepared 20 make
fun PREPARATION for every act, which
under the rules ~ International laW
constitutes violation Of neutral
rights"
sharp Rebnke Implied.
The American communication in /
terpretE the circumstances under
which Great Britain claims to be
justified IN adopting retaiat0ry I
measures toward her enemieg as
merely a reason for certain extraor- !
binary activities" by her naval forces
"and not an excuse for OF d prelude I
20 ans unlawful action
III the course ~ the present enc ,
mics ~ Great iiritain.r the note adds. 4
should prove % be IN fact tainted /
BY iliegality and disregard ~ the 4
principles OF war sanctioned by en-
llEhtened nations. L cannot be sup
POSED and this Government does not 4
for a moment suppose that his ma 4
teAtys government would wish the
same faint % nttach a. their own ac- I
tons"
Ambassador sharp at Paris, was
instructed 20 present 4 cops 81 the I
E
the French foreign office with the
statement that nlthouEh the Franch
admiralty decree had not been eff
Ciailg received in Washington IL was
understood here 20 be IDENTICAL With
the British order In council aud the
American government therefore made
similar reply.
Old blockade Impossible.
''The government Of the United
States Is, Of course. not obliYious 70
the great changes which have oc-
CURED IN the conditions and means
Of naval warfare since the rules hith
erf0 governing legal blockade were
formulated Il might be ready to adj
init that the old form 81 close block
ade with is Gordon Of ships in the
immediate offing 81 the hloekaded
ports Is no longer practicable IN face
" an enemy possessing the means
and opportunity TO make an effective
defense ~ the use Of submarines,
mines and aircraft: but Il can hardly
be maintained that whatever form 81
effective blockade may be made use
~, il Is impossible 10 conform AZ least
% the spirit and principles Of the ea
tahlished rules Of war. II the neces-
stiles Of the case should seem to rem
der Il imperative that the Gordon ~
hl0ckading vessels he extended across
the approaches 10 any neighborinN
neutral port or country, it would seem
clear that Ii wouid be easily prarti-
cable 70 comply with the we'll reoog
nized and reasonable prohibition 10
International law against tia block
aiding ~ neutral ports hy according
free admission and exit 60 all
lawful Traffic with neutral ports
through The bfnckadiug Gordon This
traffic would II course include alt
pntward bound traffic t0 the neutral
country except c0nirNhand in transit
to the enemy Such procedure need
not conflict in any respect with the
rights Of the beilleereut maintaining
the blockade since the right would
remain with the blocka0lug vessels Ga
visit and search all ships either en-
tering on leaving the ueHtrai territory
which they We're ia fact, but not u
right investing
3 Reasons Given Not Enough.
/ THE government ~ the United
states notes that ~ the order-in
council his maJesty's government give
as their reason Tor entering upon az
course II acjl0n which they are aware
I j. without precedent in modern war
fare. the Necessity they conceive
themseiNes 50 have been placed under
I 60 rftaiiate upon their enemies for
measures ~ a similar nature which
the latter have announced IL their In
Z tentiqn 90 adopt and which they have
I % some extent adopted bat the Eev-
Ierument Of the United states recall
I ing the principles upon which his
majesty 5 government have hitherto
been scf1paious 60 act intorprcts this
merely as a reason Tor certain extra
ordinary activities an the part 81 his
matcsty's naval forces and not as an
excuse for 90 prelude 20 any unlawful
action. II the course pursued hy the
present enemies of Great Britain
should prove 20 be In fact tainted b.
illegality and disregard Of the prin-
cipies of war sanctioned By enlight-
ened nations, it cannot be supposed
and this government does not for u
moment suppose that his m0iesiy'S
government would wish the same
faint 10 attach 80 their own actions
OF would cite such Illegal acts as in
any sense or degree justification for