The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-22
Radius Not AS Great As This
Nation Stood For AT London
Naval Conference
Precedent Was Set
During Boer War
United States Reached Agree
ment As To Seizure of Ships
Bound For Neutral Ports.
Note is Delayed

Washington. March ai.--There Is
now no likelihood of the United states
Directing to the Anglo-French block
ade OF Germany on the ground that
it's radius OF action Is too big. The
United States Is foreclosed from pro-
testing on this ground by it's own re-
cord.
In reply to an inquiry from the
United States as to the RADIUS of the
so-called blockade. the British and
French both stated that 1t would be
confined to European waters. includ-
ing the Mediterranean. II now appears
that the radius of the allies oper =
lions will be less than that which tho
United States Government itself has
determined as a maximum in previous
discussions of the rule OF blockade.
AT the London naval ecnferepce in
1903 which resulted In the Declaration
of London. the American delegates. of
which Admiral stockton was the ma
val expert stood out for a radius Of
action of at least 1000 miles In case
Of "A blockade.
The American Position.
The American delegation gave no.
tice OF a reservation of right to this
effect when the rules of blockade
were adopted by the conference, This
radius. ii is believed, is very much
by the allies. whose operations. 30 far
AS Germany Is concerned are likely
20 be confined 20 the English Channel.
the North Sca. aua tie waters north
and west OF scotland. II In suggested
therefore. that the cnitea States Gov
eminent would be umwise in insist
Ing at this time that tire allies con-
tlne their OPERATIONS within a smaller
The, statement made by the Ameri-
Gan delegation NJ Tendon on this snb-
3ect was AZ as follows:
THE American delegation accepts
In principle basis No. ~ with the res
ervation that the he!llserent or the
Officer In command OF the biockading
force shall have the right TO FIX the
length OF radius of the action. which,
according TO our desire. should not ex
coed ! coo miles. The radius OF ac-
ton or zone of operation should be
defined Immediately upon the declara-
tion of blockade by the officer in
command of the blockading force. The
American delegation does not wish to
impose upon belltgerents set rules AS
to the length of radius OF action. but
simply asks the right to fix a maxi
mum OF 1000 miles when II Is so de-
manded The delegation coneurs In
the remarks of Rear Admiral Lebris
regarding the nature OF the radius Of
action to vary with geographical con-
dittons, the propinauity OF the neutral
ports and interests of neutral COM
rnNrce. as well as with the force en-
pioyed.
by determining the area OF the
zone of operation the delegation In
tends to ask that the force employed
be proportionate to the zone.
No country has been more steadfast
than the United States in its opposi-
ton to paper blockades, and II holds
that the force charged with the duty
OF enforcing the blockade must be
popottonate to the zone effected
theeby."
Pactical Blockade
While the British operation Is not
termed officially a blockade, IT Is be-
coming more and more regarded as
such in a practical sense. II Is con-
cluded from the above, therefore that
while the United States Government
would do well to ask the Allies TO de-
fine the radius Of action precisely. this
Government Is hardly In a position to.
complain II the radius is one of several
hundred miles up to 1000 miles
The reservation cited above was
taken on the advice OF naval experts
who reached their conclusion largely
as a result of the changed conditions
which make blockade running a simp
Ter matter unless the former limits
OF a blockade be greatly extended.
The State Department in the pres
ent situation IL endeavoring TO shape
q course automatically which will
square with the practical interests of
the United States in case this eeun-
" is itself engaged in some future
war. and may have occasion to i'm
pose a blockade. 1t lis not intended.
therefore. to bring questions agains,
any procedure by the present beliiger-
ents which ii might later be convent
ent for the United States to adopt in
time Of war.
Another instance In the diplomatic
history OF the United States which is
receiving considerable attention in the
studies now being made in action
taken in the so-called Delagoa Bay
cases. which occurred during the Boer
war These involved a situation some-
what resembling that created by the
Allies in interfering with non-contra-
band trade through neutral countries
to and from Germany. Articles OF
American production. both contraband
and noncontraband. were seized by
the British when consigned to Del
asoa Bay. neutral port. Great
Britain alleged that these articles
were to be transported overland to
the Beers.
An Agreement Reached.
The United States protested against
me seizures but an agreement was
GnaIIy effected whereby the United
States consul and British commits.
sioner were to arrange for the release
back to their original owners OF the
American goods or their purchase by
the British Government at a price
7 (which theyg goods would have brought
had they reached. their, destination.
This arrangement was fully carried
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