Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-06

| val forces ana not as Ill cACuSo AOb o..
nrelude to any unlawful action. II ths
course pursued by the present enc.
mics of Great Britain should prove 10
he in fact tainted by illegality and dis.
regard Of the principles Of war sane.
toned by enlightened nations. 1t can.
not be supposed, and this governmelt
does not for moment suppose. tina,
His Majesty's' government would wis
the same faint to attach to their owl
actions or would cite such illegal act,
acts as in any sense or degree a JUS
tidcation for similar practices on thel
part insofar as they affect neutra
rights. Il GLE
Discretion of Prize Courts
at is thus that the government Of H.
United States interprets the language O
the note of His Majesty's principal S'trs
tary Of state for foreign affairs vME
accompanies the copy of the Ordesh
Council which was handed to the ambas
sador of the United States near the gov
eminent in London and by him trans
mitted to Washington.
"This government notes with gratifca
ton that wide discretion is afforded Il
the prize court in dealing with the trad,
of neutrals in such manner as may ir
the circumstances be deemed Just, and
that full provision is made to facilitat.
terms by persons interested in any goods
placed in the custody Of the marshal O,
the prize court under that order: tina,
the effect Of the Order-in- Council is II
confer certain powers upon the executive
officers of His Majesty's government
and that the extent to which these DOW.
ers will be actually exercised and tn.
degree of severity with which the meas
ureS Of blockade authorized will he pu-
into operation are matters which will de
pend on the administrative orders ISSUED
by the government and the decisions O
the authorities especially charged will
the duty of dealing with individual ships
and cargoes according to the merits O.
each case This government furthe,
notes with equal satisfaction the 6kcla
ration of the British government that
the instructions to be issued by Ht
Majesty's government to the fleet and Il
the customs officials and executive com
nittee concerned will impress upon then
the duty of acting with the utmost dis
patch consistent with the object in view
and of showing in every case such con
sideration for neutrals as may be com
patble with that object, which is. sue
cinctly stated. to establish a blockad
to prevent vessels from carrying good
for or coming from Germany
"In view of these assurances formal
given to this government. it is confident
ly expected that the extensive power
conferred by the Order-in- Council on III
executive officers Of the crown will be
stricted by orders issued by the govern
ment directing the exercise of their dis
cretionary powers in such a manner as t
modify in practical application those Pre-
visions of the Order-in-C Council which,
strictly enforced, would violate neutrs
rights and interrupt legitimate trade Re-
lying on the faithful performance of thes
voluntary assurances of His Majesty
government, the United States takes
for granted that the approach of Amer
can merchantmen to neutral parts sit
ated upon the long line of coast affectt
by the Order-in- Council will not be int
fered with when it is known that they
not carry goods which are contraband
war or goods destined to or proceediI
from ports within the belligerent terri,
ry affected.
Hope for Adjustment
"The government of the United Sta
assumes with the greatest conhdencs ii
His Maiesty's government will thutVA,
just their practice to the recognized rul
! of international law, because it is mar
fest that the British government hay
adopted an extraordinary method
stopping cargoes destined for or cor
ing from the enemy's territory while
owing to the existence of unusual cont
tons in modern warfare at sea, it "
be difficult to restrict to the limits whc
have been heretofore requested by i
law of nations. Though the area Of ops
atoms is confined to European waite
including the Mediterranean so great
area of the high seas is covered and Il
Gordon of vessels is so distant from L
territory affected that neutral vesss
must necessarily pass through the bloc
aiding force in order to reach importa
neutral ports which Great Britain as
belligerent has not the legal right
blockade and which, therefore, it is pr
sumed she has no intention of claimlr
to blockade. The Scandinavian and Da
ish ports, for example, are open to Amel
lean trade. They are also free. SO faF {
the actual enforcement Of the Order.t
Council is concerned, to carry on ira
with German Baltic ports. although II
an essential element of blockade that
bear with equal severity upon all ne
trails.
} "This government, therefore, infers III
the commanders of His Majesty's sh
of war engaged in maintaining the
| called blockade will be instructed to ave
an enforcement of the proposed measuf
of non-intercourse in such q way as
impose restrictions upon neutral ira
more burdensome than those which ha
been regarded as inevitable when
ports of a belligerent are actually bloc
AIDED by the ships Of its enemy.
THE possibilities Of serious interrupt
of American trade under the OrderI
Council are SO many. and the metho
proposed are so unusual and seem liat
, to constitute so great an impeachment
, embarrassment to neutral commerce.
; the government Of the United States,
, the Order-in- Council is strictly enforc
| apprehends many interferences with
| legitimate trade which will impose up
His Maiesty's government heavy resp