New Britain herald., 1915-03-02


 l en to frame retaliatory measures in order in their turn to prevent com- 1 modities of any kind from reaching
 or leaving Germany. These measures 1 will, however, be enforced by the l British and French governments without risk to neutral ships or to l neutral or non-combatant life and ] in strict observance of the dictates l of humanity. The British and French governments will. therefore. hold , themselves free to detain and take in | to port ships carrying goods of pre- l stunned enemy destination ownership 1 or origin. It is not intended to con- l fiscate such vessels or cargoes unless l they would otherwise be liable to condemnation. The treatment of vessels and cargoes which have sailed 1 before this date will not be affected y Complex Problem.
 Copies of the notes were imm edi- ately sent by Secretary Bryan to Pres
 ident Wilson. State department off, l cials admitted that one of the most complex problems of the war had arisen Officials were unanimo ous in their opinion that the notification could not be called "a blockade" all 1 though it had virtually the effect of the same. It was noted generally that the communication did not use the
 word blockade, and at the French and British embassies here there was an avoidance of the same word. The notes leave much, therefore, to be explained.
 It was regarded as almost certain that the United States would reply
 promptly with an inquiry as to how the step was to be carried into prac- tice together with a protest against the announcement that commerce be- tween Germany and neutral countries hereafter would be interrupted by the allies
 Disposition of Cargoes.
 Officials and diplomats immediate ly were curious on reading the text to know what would be the disposition of cargoes hitherto not listed as con- tra band, such as cotton, which, if destined to Germany, the allied fleets propose to take into British or French ports. An 1ntimation was conveyed in British quarters that the allies in tended to buy outright all such car goes, but such a promise would not affect the determination of the Unit ed States to insist on it's right to send non -contraband articles to Germany, when the question is argued in fur ther diplomatic correspondence.
 Just when the United States gov ernment will act on the latest note is dependent to some extent on when the replies are received from the allies and Germany to the informal com mun1cation looking to an abolition of submarine warfare on merchant ships and the shipment of foodstuffs to the civilian population of belligerents. Germany's answer Is said to be on It's way, and officials expect that it vir tually will be an acquiescence in the principle of the American proposals.
 More Serious Than Blockade
 Dlspleasure over the latest de- NeloPfnent was uncOnCealed in state department circles, where the stop ping or commerce to and from Ger many was viewed as much more ser- ious than blockade, since it inter- fered also with cargoes presumed to be bound to belligerent while in transit to neutral country
 Whereas the doctrine of, continu- ous voyage has previously been in- voked in the present war by Great Britain to sustain her right to de- tain cargoes at any stage in their journey, if proved ultimately to be destined to a belligerent, such a pre- sumption is understood now to in clude all articles of merchandise such as machinery and implements as -n1I United States and neutral countries unless an embargo on re-eXportation is put into effect by the neutrals to whom the products are consigned.
 In approaching the questions of the ground on which the United States should enter protest against the ac- ton of the allies, officials were doubt full as to whether they would make their, argument on the theory that q blockade in reality was being at tempted or whether they would con- tend for the uninterrupted jassage of cargoes between this country and belligerents of articles not listed as prolongation of correspondence on this subject begun last December.
 No Way to Enforce Protests.
 Officials realized that. except for diplomatic correspondence, the points of which might be easily exhausted Without remedy, there was no way for neutral government to enforce their protests and still maintain their neutrality. The general disregard of precedents. it was pointed out has made the position of neutrals more delicate in the present circumstances than ever before, though a somewhat similar situation which led to em- bargoes by the United States and the non-intercourse act arose in the carly part of the nineteenth century dur