Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-19
Of international law as between the
United states and the belligerents.
To Reitcrate Inquiry.

OF international law as between the I
United states and the bellgercnts.
To Reitcrate Inquiry.
The American attitude has not been |
changed materially as result of the
explanations In the exchange of notes
with Great Britain and France. In
whatever communication the pro- !
tests are made by the Washington
government to safeguard its rights,
there win be reiteratiou, IN is unde- /.
stood of the questions asked by the
United States in its Identical inquiry
to Great Britain and France. In this
the allies We're asked whether the
rules Of blockade or the rules gov
erning contraband and non-Contra-
band were to be followed, application
of both together being viewed las
having no precedent in international
law
1.-THE paradoXical situation thus Gre
ated,' the American note observes,
should be changed and the deelar
ing powers ought TO assert whether
they rely upon the rules governing a
blockade or the rules applicable when
no blockade exists.
Wants Questions Answered.
After inquiring what would be the
disposition of various kinds of snip
ments the American government
asked Upon what principles of in
ternational law would 1t rest, and
upon what rule if no blockade is
maintained and declared" il contin-
ued, could the cargo of a neutral
ship sailing out of a German port be
condemued2 If it is not condemned.
what other legal course is there nut
to release it?'
Great Britain's answer has indtcat-
ed that the cargo and ships diverted
into British ports and owned by neG-
trails will not be confiscated but re-
stored to their owners, but this VIII
not affect the insisten0e of the United
states on, the legal right Of its sub
jects 60 snip Gargoes of a non-contra-
band character TO and from neutral
countries without interruption ana re-
gardless of their destination
Policy During Civil War.
During the civil war the United
States enforced rigid blockade OF
the southern states by stopping car
goes while plying between neutral
ports. but in the famous Matamoros
cases, finally ruled upon by Chiet
Justice Chase, of the supreme court
of the United States the rule Of block
ade and continuous voyage in snip
ments between England and Mexico,
was not held to extend to goods OF
a non-contraband character state
department officials, recalling TINS
case TODAY, pointed out that non-con-
/ traband goods were released ana per
mitted TO be forwarded to their desll-
/ nation In the confederate states, THESE
cases have formed the precedent LOT
American practice ever since and the
decisions were accepted by Great
Britain at the time as equitable.
The American Doctrine.
The application which tae aItles
now have placed on the continuous
VOYAGE theory is that cargoes destlneu
ultimately to an enemy must pc
stopped in European waters even II o.
a -conuaband character oiii-
Gals are preparing to compat ttlls
with an array of precedehts sl'o".ns
maj the rules of international law
GENERALLY accented have been In ac-
cord win the American doctrine.
Hlgh officials said today That no
communication to the allies had beeh
finally drafted but that memoranda
ON the subject was being prepared,
II was declared at the state oe,
knortment that although the Woru
'hlockade" is not used by Great btIl-
ain in describing the OBJECT OF nei
new measures the American govern
ment considers that blockade ~ -
nnestion of facts and requires certain
advance notifications to that ellec'
? which have not been given. me or
der in council, it was pointed out ulu
NOT mention BLOCKADE nor was any
; n , radius of activity given lmltlhB
| tbe area of operations, the announce
1 mont merely combining it to EURO
e mean waters including the Meol'e'
ranean. ,,-,. officials is that
1 craat Britain to continue hef ou'-
e lined course will be obliged iinaily "
admit that there is no legal Dasls ioi
t 49, %er action and that lit is solely re-
= toliatorv measure resulting rom 'ng ,
o e e"t,g of war Should snch a..
| ed3ission be officially recorded, !, u
f roight have vital effect, 1t was Sa az
4 on the American Interpretation o. IN
4 tarnational law in the future SONY !,
offiriols thought. for instance tll"t y
No longer could be charged as an u ~
neutral act to levy an empaIso Va
supplies to the belligeren's' ShquL"
e congress bestow that power on '"'
= executive.