New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-06

manifest that the British govern
ment have adopted an extraordi-
nary method. of stopping cargoes
destined for, or coming from the
enemy's territory" which, owing TO
the existence Of unusual conditions
in modern warfare at sea. II VIII
be difficult TO restrict TO the limits
which have been heretofore re-
ouired by the law of nations
Though the area of operations IS
confined TO European waters IN
GLIDING the Mediterranean so great
an area of the high seas is covered
and the Gordon Of ships is so DIS.
tant from the territory affected
that neutral vessels must neces-
sarily pass through the blockadlng
force in order to reach important
neutral ports, which Great Britain,
as a belligerent, has not the legal
right to blockade, and which, there
fore. it is presumed she has no in
tention of claiming to blockade.
The scandinavian and Danish ports,
for example, are open TO American
trade. They are also free, so far as
the actual enforcement OF the Or
der in Council is concerned, TO
carry on trade with German Baltic
ports, although it is an essential
element of a blockade that 1t bears
with equal severity upon all neu-
trails.
This government, therefore, IN
fers that the commanders OF ms
majesty's ships Of war engaged IN
maintaining the so-called blockade
will be instructed to avoid an en-
forcement Of the proposed meas
ures of non-intercourse In such
way as to impose restrictions upon
neutral trade more burdensome
than those which have boon re-
garded as inevitable when the
ports Of a belligerent are actually
blockaded by the ships OF its
enemy.
Reparaton for Injuries.
The possibilities Of serious IN
terruption of American trade
under the Order in Council are so
many. and the methods proposed
are so unusual and seem liable to
constitute so great an impediment
and embarrassment to neutral
commerce. that the government OF
the United States, If the Order IN
Council is strictly enforced, ap-
prehends many interferences with
its legitimate trade. which will
impose upon his majesty's govern
ment heavy responsibilities for
acts of the British authorities
clearly subversive of the rights OF
neutral nations on the high seas.
It is, therefore, expected that ms
majesty's government, having con-
eidered these possibilities, will take
the steps necessary 10 avoid them,
and. in the event tint they should
unhappily occur, will be prepared
10 make full reparation for every
act which under the rules OF IN
ternational law constitutes n Vlo-
lation OF neutral rights
As stated in its communication
Of October %, 1914. this govern
ment will insist that the rights
and duties Of the United States
and IT'S citizens in the present war
be defined by the existing rules
Of international law and the
treaties Of the United States,
irrespective Of the provisions OF
the declaration Of London, and
that this government reserves to
itself the right 10 enter a protest
or demand in each case in which
those rights and duties so defined
are violated or their free exercise
interfercd with by the authorities
Of the British government
I'm conclusion. you Will reiterate
TO his maicsty's government that
this statement of the view Of the
go,ernmcut Of the United States
is made IN the most friendly spirit,
and in accordance with the uni
form candor which has charac-
terized the relations Of the two
governments in the past, and
which has been in large measure
the foundation of the peace and
amity existing between the two
nations without interruption for
century.