Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-19
Answers by Great Britain and
France Regarding Neutral
Commerce Are Far From
Giving Satisfaction
UNOFFICIAL BLOCKADE
NOT TO BE TOLERATED
Rights of Allies to Interfere
With Non-COntraband Car
goes FIRMLY Disputed by
State Department,
~, posalss Iousr.L svser., lrAsto w,ssi

NORhiho JOURNAL SPECIAL LtAbtp WiRtl
Washington, March 1S.-The Unit
ed states government considers that
Great Britain and France, on the Brit
ish order in council and in the accom-
panyng notes, have not answered the
questions prOpOunded to them as To
what warrant there Is under interna-
tlonal law for the establishment of an
embargo on all commercial inter
course, directly and indirectly, be-
tween Germany and neutral countries.
fl was stated officially at the state
department today that this govern
ment still does not know whether the
action of the allies is intended as a
legal blockade or whether the ordi-
nary rules Of contraband and non
contraband are TO be the legal basis
for future detentions. On determi-
nation of this question probably will
depend not only the nature of any
steps which may be taken by the
United States at this time, but also
the basis for the many claims for
damages arising out Of Interruptions
to American commerce under the new
policy Of the allies.
Position of United States.
In preparing the protest to be sent
to Great Britain ana France the po-
sitlon of the United States government
is substantially as follows:
III the action Of the allies is n
blockade, all commerce directly with
Germany can be halted by making the
blockade effective, certain radius
of activity" being allowed for the
blockadng warships off the German
coast because of the newly developed
activities OF submarines. But there
can be no legal blockade of the coast
of neutral countries Of Europe, con-
tiguous to those at war, under any cir
cumstances, and commerce between
the United States and neutrals, espe-
cially in non-cOntraband, should be
free from interruption, irrespective OF
ultimate destination
No Legal Right for Order.
2-If the action is not a blockade
then there exists no legal right to de-
tain cotton or other non-contraband
eargoes even when consigned directly
to German ports. Nor can foodstuffs
or conditional contraband be justly
Interrupted unless proved though
consigned to Germany to he destined
for the use of its belligerent forces
and not its civilian population. Tn
der the same circumstances, too, there
is no legal basis for OBTAINING cargoes
consigned from the United States &c
the neutral countries of Europe i
containing cotton or non-contrabanc
goods, irrespective of ultimate desti'
nation. Similarly the allies cannot
under the previously accepted princi
pies of international law interrupt
shipments Of foodstuffs and othei
conditional contraband en- route be
tween the United States and neutra
countries unless clearly proved to b'
going eventually TO the belligeren
forces of German and not to it's civil
ian population.
Rights of Neutrals.
Neutral countries of Europe ma!
declare embargoes on transportation
Of contraband or non-contraband, thu
preventing supplies from reachinI
Germany. With this sovereign RICH
the United States does not take issue
but ii will Insist on its right to shil
TO neutral countries placing the bur
den Of stopping further progress OF
the latter nations themselves.
In considering the above propose
lions officials realize that Great Bri
tain and her allies have set up tn
claim that their actions constitute re
taliatory measures against German
but this, in the view of the America
government, does not affect the statu