The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-18
England and France Explain
Their Course as to Neu-
trail Shipping
RADIUS OF ACTIVITY
is CLEARLY DEFINED
Operations viii Not Be Conducted
Outside European Waters, Including
the Mediterranean, Says Communi-
cation from the English and French.

WASHINGTON, March Is. Diplo-
matte notes were made public last
night hv the state department constr
tutmg the entire correspondence OF
the ! nited States and Germany, and
between the United States and Great
Britain and France, relative to the
abandonment of submarine attacks on
merchant ships. the shipment Of eondi-
tional contraband and toodstuhs to
civilians in a belligerent country, the
use of neutral flags by belhgerent mer-
chautmcn, the removal of mines, and
the proclamation of Il virtual blockade
bv the allies against Germany. The
communications rcVe lie Il that the
United States government, realizing
the difficulties OF maintaining an Ell
fcctiyc blockade by q close guard OF
an enemy coast, asked that "a radius
of activity be defined. Great Britain
and France replied with the announce
mcut that the operations of blockade
would not be conducted "outside of
European waters, including the Med
itorraucau. .#S.
While Germany agreed, it is diselos-
ca. TO abandon her submarine attacks
ON mercantile of any flag except
when they resist visit or search, pro
v.dcl foodstuffs were permitted to
reach her civilian population, Great
Britain and her allies rejected the pro
posals originally made by the United
States government in an effort to bring
the bclligercnts into an arrangement
which would safeguard the interests
of neutrals.
Furthermore. the documents show
that in q message of inquiry to Great
Britain and France the United States
asked whether the embargo on all com
morce between Germany and neutra
countries was to be carried out under
the rules of blockade or by interfer-
cnce with ships and cargocs las if no
blockade existed - The two together
presented, in the view of the American
government, n "proposed course of ac-
tion previously unknown to iuterna
tional law
The answers from both Great Britain
and France reveal for the first time
that the allies officially regard theil
policy astRets blockade but desire to
refrain from exercising the right OF
bclligereuts under 81 blockade to con
fscate ships ma cargoes as penalty
for breach of blockade, substituting
for il procedure in prize courts ant
compensation through sale of detained
merchandise.
The definition Of a "radius of nc
tirity' for the allied fleet in European
waters. including the Mediterranean
is the first intimation of the geogra
phieul limits of the blockade Its lin
its were not given more exactly, tn
allies claim, because Germany wa
equally indefinite in proclaiming al
the waters surrounding Great Britai
and Ireland war zone -
The restriction Of the area of opera
tious Of the blockade to Europca
waters followed this observation b
the United States to both Great Brit
ain and France: while this govern
meut is fully alive to the possibilit
that the methods of modern naval wa
fare, particularly in the use OF the sal
marine fer both defensive and offel
sive operations, may make the form,
menus of maintaining a blockade
physical impOssibilitv, il feels that
can be urged with great force tn;
there should also be some limit to Il
radius of activity and especially
10 thi, action by the belligerents ca
be- construed to be blockade.
would certainly create a serious sta
Of gdaira if, for example, an Americ;
vessel laden with q cargo of Germt
origin Shuuld escape the British patr
in European waters only to be held I
by - cruiser off New York and talk
to Halifax .
The publication Of the correspon
cnce cleans the slate of diplomat