Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-28
Not Much Encouragement to
Washington From Tenor Of
Comments in London News
papers.
COMPLETE BLOCKADE
OF GERMANY INDICATED
Reports Suggest That Allies
Mean to Prevent CargoeS Of
Any Kind From Reaching
Teutonlc Ports,
lnr norn.na lounn.l nrselAl .a.sse w,asl

taY nopn,no JovsAAL SPECIAL lrAssp wiarf
Washington, Feb. 27.--No word
came from either Great Britain or
Germany today concerning their at
titude on the American government
proposals for the removal of mines,
the abandonment of submarine war
fare on merchant ships and the ship
ment OF foodstuffs to the civilian pop
ulations of belligerents.
Both sides were understood still TO
be considering the Washington ad-
ministration suggestions. Replies
were net expected for two or three
days. From the press reports OF
England's plads for reprisals, which
were decided on before the American
proposals arrived. officials did not
draw much encouragement for the
success OF their plan. They are hope
ful, however. that II an acceptance OF
all the proposals Is not possible now,
there at least viii be an acquicscence
by all the belligerents In the sugges-
tion that mines be removed from the
high seas except those directly guard
ing the coast defenses and harbors.
Inquiry as TO the form or the
Washington governments latest Dip
lgerents over the war zone problems
brought the Information from relia-
BILE sources today that the communi-
cation sent identically TO Great Bri-
( tain and Germany was of an informal
character with suggestion OF three
articles which might be the basis for
u "modus yivendi," technically known
among diplomatic papers as an ex-
change of notes and regarded as a
temporary agreement designed TO COW
or an emergency situation until the
| points at issue usually can be further
/ delberated upon.
The suggested articles which might
! become the "modus ylvendf cover
| a plan, the details of which are not
worked out In the notes, for the SUI
/ pervision by agencies certified to hy
/ the United states government OF the
distribution of imported foodstuffs To
the civilian population OF belligerents,
The other two articles deal with the
removal of floating mines and the
abandonment OF submarine attacks on
merchant vessels The text Is COM
paratively brief.
No Confirmation of Story.
Confirmation was lacking here to-
night of a report from London that
neutral governments had been notl-
fled by Great Britain and her allies
that a general blockade Of German
ports would be declared next week.
Press dispatches to that ettect
aroused wide Interest in official and
diplomatic circles, however, as TO the
probable course of the United states
government.
Authorities on international law
agree that a belllgerent has the flBht
10 blockade an enemy's port with
competent force" and that noutrals
are bound 10 respect that right They
divide such bockades into TWO
classes, simple or de facto, and pun
lie The latter class Is deflned as
one where the investment Is not ac-
tually established, but where hlso q
public notification OF the tact IL
made to neutral powers of the gov
ernment or officers OF state, declar-
ling the blockade" Such notifica-
! tion II is added, by the same author
lities. ID considered binding not only
luDon "a neutral state, but also upon
lts citizens. The result is 70 throw
the burden OF proof upon the cap
ltured vessel seized while attempting
To enter a blockade port The block
ade is held to he in force until for
/ NAL notification of its withdrawal
Date OF blockade Important.
The exact date OF tho issuance Of
the blockade notification, it Is held.
viii be of the utmost importance,
since a vessel sailing for a biockaded
port In ignorance Of the fact that II
has been blockaded has been held not
liable to condomnations. A treaty OF
1894 between Great Britain and the
United states made this specific pro-
vision and proclamations issued ~
Washington declaring blockades dur
ing the civil war follow this theory
II has been the general International
rule. il is said, for neutrals In ports
TO he blockaded TO be allowed al least
fifteen DAYS after the blockade Is ans
nounced in which 10 leave those
ports without cargo AFTER that tllne
they are subject 10 seizure II the
modification of the Anglo-ftench
blockade of German ports ~ ac-
oepted by the United states govern
ment as in accordance with inter-
national law, Il is assumed that Tor
nal warning viii be given American
shin owners and shippers IN proc
Iamation By the president
Government officials tonight re-
fused to discuss The matter IN the al
sence Of official confirmation Of the
British plan. it was made clear
however, that such notice when re-
ceived would be subjected to rigor
Gus inspection as 20 its conformity
with international precedent
New Problems Likely.
II is noted here that the London
dispatch does not specifically desig-
nate the proposed British action as
"A blockade and If the formal am
nounccment observes the same dis
tinction in terms, new problems may
arise
In a generai way the British action
might then be similar 10 the Ger
man war zone" declaration, with
the exception Of the fact that It gives
assurances that the lives Of those
aboard vessels halted win be re-