New-York tribune., 1915-03-28
British Views of the Blockade.

1t is hard for a nation at war TO see
much merit in the protests of neutral
nations whose interests are prejudiced by
its military policy. National self-interest
obscures obligations of fair dealing which
would be readily recognized were the
grim pressure of military necessity" re-
moved.
The normal attitude Of the British pub
lie toward American protests against the
irrcgularity and extra-legality of the Brit
ish blockade" is therefore that assumed
by Mr. Asquith in his speeches-namely,
that Germany's violations of international
law in one field justify Great Britain's
violations of it in another field. This
view is expressed by most British journals.
1t is summed up briefly in these sentences
from a recent article in "The Spectator: ::
MIR. Asquith was wise to say that he did
not wish to be entangled in juridical nice
ties. The fact is that, IN answer to Ger
man lawlessness, we shall use all the pow
ers we have got, always excluding inhu-
manitv and crime. We trust that
the United States government will appre-
ciate the fact that we do and must mean
business"
IN refreshing contrast with this rather
eruff notice to neutrals that their rights
must conform TO Great Britain's present
necessities is the candid acknowledgment
by The Manchester Guardian" that under
international law the neutrals have
pretty strong case. The Guardian" is
courageous and independent newspaper,
broadminded enough to see that there are
two sides to most international controver-
sizes. It comedies that Great Britain is
doing an unprecedented and abnormal
thing in substituting for legal blockade
an absolute embargo on all German trade
even non-contraband trade with neu-
trails through neutral ports In the follow
ing paragraph the American point of view
is ivdlciously stated.
In :he protests made by the New York
papers there is no untrcndlIness to this
country. HIT Germany as hard as you like,
they say in effect; since by her pirate
nroclamations she has forfeited her rights at
sra But do not let only half Of the force
Of your blows fall on Germany and the other
half on Us; and in your just desire to punish
Germany for the way SIZE has treated neu-
trails and non-combatants 90 not forget our
neutral right to trade except IN contraband
and in breach of blockade.
"The Guardian" recalls the pertinent
fact that Great Britain entered the war
a. the champion of neutra! rights on land
and says that the British people do mot
want to assert them (neutral rights on
one element at the cost of injurlng them
on another" 1t sees military advantages
IN the effort TO outwit international law
by preventing trade between Germany and
neutrals i'm nOn-contraband products.
But it also sees that such an attempt must
cost The possible alienation OF neutral
sympathy and the sacrifice to some extent
of our position as the upholders of
legality, which is part of our national
tradition and which ge have sought to
vndicate throughout this war" -
lt Is natural that "The Guardian"
should argue for a clearer definition of
Mr.. Asquith's programme and its modif-
cation 80 as to afford fuller recognition
10 neutral rights That is. in the MAN,
the American case against the British
embargo, which Mr.. Asquith calls a
blockade, but has taken no steps to con-
fine within the legal limits Of a blockade.
The British government owes it to itself
and to fairminded British opinion, as well
as to the opinion of neutral nations, to
let the latter know what principles Of
international law remain unsuspended.
When those primary facts are estab-
lisbed neutrals will > able TO take their
bearings and shape their course.