Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-08
BLOCKADE AFFECTS NEUTRAL
PORTS.

circumstances
BLOCKADE; AFFECTS NEUTRAL
PORTS.
The note of His Majestys principal
secretary Of state for foreign affairs
which accompanies the order in council
and which bears the same date, notifies
the government of the United States OF
the establishment OF a blockade which is
il defined by the terms of the order in
council. to include all the coasts and ports
Of Germany and every port CT possible
access to enemy territory. But the novel
and quite unprecedented feature Of that
blockade. il We arc to assume it to be
properly so defined is that 1t embraces
many neutral ports and coasts, bars ac-
cess to them, and subjects all neutral
ships seeking to approach them to the
same suspicion that would attach to them
were they bound for the ports of the
enemies of Great Britain and to unusual
risks and penalties
at Is manifest that such limitations,
risks and liabilities. placed upon the ships
Of a neutral power on the high seas, be-
yond the right of visit and search and the
right TO prevent the shipment of contra
band already referred to, are distinct
invasion OF the sovereign rights of the
cation whose ships. trade or commerce
Is interfered with,
CAN STILL. COMPLY WITH LAW.
The government of the United States
is, of course not oblivious to the great
| changes which have occurred in the con-
ditions and means of naval warfare since
the rules hitherto governing legal block
ade were formulated. 1t might be ready
to admit that the old form of close block
ade with its Gordon Of ships in the imme-
} date offing OF the blockaded ports is no
longer practicable in the face OF an enc
my possessing the means and opportunity
to make an effective defense by the use
Of submarines, mines and air craft but
| it can hardly be maintained that, what
! every form of effective blockade may be
made use Of IT is impossible to conform
at least to the spirit and principles of the
esta blished rules of war. II the necessi-
! ties Of the case should seem to render it
/ imperative that the Gordon of blockading
vessels be extended across approaches to
any neishboring neutral port or country,
| 1t would seem clear that it would still be
easily practicable to comply with the well
recognized and reasonable prohibition Of
| international law against the blockading
OF neutral ports by according free admis
sion and exit to all lawful traffic with
neutral ports through the blockadlng cor
don, This traffic would. of course. in
clude all outward bound traffic from the
neutral country and all inward bound
| traffic to the neutral country except con
traband In transit TO the enemy. Such
procedure need not conflict in any respect
with the rights OF the beligerent main.
| tanning the blockade since the right would
remain with the blockading vessels to
visit and search all ships either entering
or leaving the neutral territory which
they We're In fact. but not of right, in
vesting
faint OF ILLEGALITY
THE government of the United States
notes that In the order in council His
MaJesty's government give as their rea-
son FOR entering upon a course OF action
which they are aware Is without precs
dent In modern warfare. the necessity
they conceive themselves to have beer
placed under TO retaliate upon their enc
mics for measures Of a similar nature
which the latter lave announced 1t theii
intention to adopt and which they have
to some extent adopted, but the govern
ment OF the United States recalling the
principles upon which His Majesty's gov
ernment have hitherto been scrupulous