Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-23
PRESIDENT IS
NOW PREPARING
STRONG PROTEST
Great Britain and France Are
to Be Informed That Policy
Toward Neutral Shipping
Has No Precedent,

ihf hoHhihe JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WtRHl
Washington, Marvch 22-President
Wilson had under consideration to-
day the draft of q note soon to be
sent TO Great Britain and France pre-
sentlng the views of the United States
government on the blockade of com
lmercc between Germany and neutral
countries
That the communication would go
( forward within "a few days was stat
/ ed officially at the White House and
! in well Informed official quarters It
was understood that strong objection
would be voiced against the block
AIDE on the ground that II was based
on no precedent in law or history.
Same as in Civil War.
The attitude of the United states
! win be in some respects the same as
that held during the civil war on the
subject Of blockade, il was indicated
I by some Officials, who suggested that
since the recent exchange Of notes
with Great Britain there has been
popular conception of the position Of
/ the Washington government in 1868.
| II was said that the attitude of the
( United states on the doctrine of
continuous voyage" had been best
] expressed in the cases of the Spring
box and the Pcterhoff. two English
vessels captured and taken into prize
courts.
The Springbol was captured while
en- route from England to British
port In the Bahamas. She was laden
with gunpowder and army supplies.
The supreme court OF the United
states to which the ease was appealed
ruled that the apparent destination
of the vessel was the confederate
states and the fact that the vessel
was TO call at the Baharams did not
alter the continuity of her voyage.
The court held that the cargo would
he condemned and that vessels which
could be proved to be intending to
violate a blockade could be intercept
ed at any stage OF their journey
Pctcrhon and Matamoras.
In the case of the Peterhon and
Others known as the "Matamoras
cases however a ruling was made
on an entirely different set of cir
cumstances constituting in the view
OF officials here almost an exact pa
rallel with the situation today with
respect to commerce between the
United states ana Holland or other
countries contiguous TO those at war.
The Peterhot was captured while
on route from England TO Matamofas,
Mexico, and her cargo condemned by
a prize court chief Justice chase
ruled that the mouth of the Rio
Grandc was mot included in the
blockade of the ports of the rebel
states. and that neutral commerce
with MaAmoras. except i'm contra
band, was entirely free
Holding by CHIEF Justice,
The chief Justice held that "neu-
tral trade to or from a blockaded
country 10y inland navigation or
transportation is lawful and there
fore that trade between London and |
Matamoras even with intent to sup
ply from Matamoras goods to Texas
violated no blockade and cannot be F,
declared unlawful"
This position officials Indicated |
might be refgcrred TO in the forth
coming American communication to /
Great Britain and France who have !
declared through the order in Cuun-
ell their intention of OBTAINING 'all |
commerce wh@her contahand or
on-Contrahaud.