The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-02


 | tween the United States and neutral coun- tries, unless an embargo on re-exporta- ton is put into effect by the neutrals to whom the products are consigned.
 Injection of an element of suspicion on cargoes of goods hitherto untouched When bound between neutral ports will greatly increase the duties of the Ameri- car government in protecting the inter- ests of its shippers from undue delays ana detentions without sufficient proof.
 Question the Right
 The entire question of the right set up by Great Britain, to take neutral ves- seis into ports for extended examina- tor and kindred subjects, such as con sienments Ito order' and to named con slgnees will be brought into the field Of discussion agin, affecting materially the answer which the United States was preparing to the correspondence with Great Britain on the subject of contra band began with the American note of December 2s. and continued in a prelimi- nary and supplementary reply from Great Britain.
 In approaching the question of the ground on which the United States should enter protest against the action of the aihes, officials were doubtful as to weth- CT they would make their argument on the theory that a blockade in reality Was being attempted or whether they would contend for the tninterrupted as- sage of cargoes between this country and belligerents not listed as contraband. The letter would be a prolongation of cor respondence on this subject began last December.
 If the former theory is assumed. how ever, the rules of international law pro- vide that every blockade to be binding on neutrals must be effective, that is Il sufficient force of ho uoned near enough to the ports or coast Of blockaded country practically to pre- vent 1ngress or egress of all vessels A certain radius of action has been permit ted for blocladipg fleets. but this, &C., ton, according to authorities of the United States naval war college, has never been allowed to extend to remote seas. While all these points will be raised in any legal controversies that may arise over the detention or confiscation of cargoes, some officials thought Great Britain might even be planning 70 pay contInu- oisly, by her own prize courts, rather than permit any commerce to reach Ger many during the war.
 Precedents Disregarded
 Officials realized that except for diplo- matlc correspondence, the points of which might be easily exhausted without rem edy there was no way for neutral gov
 
 still maintain their neutrality. The gen erai disregard of precedents, it was point ed out, has made the position of neutrals Eicre delicate in the present circum- stances than ever before, through a some what similar situation which led to em- bar goes by the United States and the ronintercourse act that arose in the early part of the nineteenth century during the Naroleonic wars. A blockade was de- clared by Great Britain against the Ger nsan coast from the River Elbe to the Port of Brest (France) inclusive Napo- leon, then in camp at Berlin, proclaimed Q counter blockade against the entire British coast, and prohibited commerce with England. Great Britain then re- taliated by issuing an order in council prohibiting neutral vessels from trading With the ports of France and her allies and with all ports of Europe from which thu British flags was excluded.
 Against these various orders and de- crees,' writes John Bassett Moore, for nler counsellor of the state department, tEe United States protested and as meas uJes of retaliation resorted to embargoes and nonintercourse and in the case of Great Britain, which was aggravate by the question of impressment eventually to war;
 That the questions were never definitely settled is indicated in the correspondence between the United States and it's com nissioners who finally arranged the treaty of Ghent in 1874.
 Subsequently international conferences and conventions attempted to define the operation of a blockade, but in none of them is there any rule, ratified by all the present belligerents, that would cover the action of Great Britain and France today.
 The entire subject probably will be laid before the cabinet tomorrow nv President Wilson.