The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-24
WHERE u. S. STANDS
POSITION OF this NATION 0N
ALLIED BLOCKADE
FIX Second PROTEST

FIX Second PROTEST
Substantial Position of the United
States to be Set Forth In Note,
Which State Department Officials
is Now Preparing to Send to tho
Allies.
In preparing the protest to be sent
to Great Britain and France the posi-.
ton Of the United States substan-
tally is as follows: s.
/. If the action @; the allies Is @.
blockade, all commerce directly with
Germany can be halted by making
the blockade effective, certain .tra-
dius Of activity" being allowed for
the blockading warships OF the Ger
man coast, because OF the newly de-
veloped activities OF submarines. But
there can be no legal blockade Of the
coast OF neutral countries of Europe:
contiguous to those at war. under
any circumstances, and commerce be-
tween the United States and neutraIs,i
especially in non-contraband, should
be free from interruption, iTre-;
spectiye Of ultimate destination.
2. If the action is not blockade
then there exists no legal right to de-
tain cotton or other non-ccntraband
cargoes, even when consigned direct
ly to German ports. Nor can food-s
stuffs or conditional contraband be
justly interrupted unless proven.
though consigned to Germany, to be-
destined for the use of its belIiger-s
ent forces and not its civilian popu-s
lation. Under the same circuna-
stances, too, there is no legal basis
for OBTAINING cargoes consigned from
the United States to nertral countries
Of Europe il containing cotton or
non-contraband goods, irrespective OF
ultimate destination. Similarly tho
allies can not under the previously
accepted principles OF international
law interrupt shipments Of foodstufrE
and other conditional contraband en-
route between the United States and
neutral countries, unless clearly
proven to be going eventually to the
belligerent forces Of Germany and
not it's civilian population.
8. Neutral countries Of Europe
may declare embargoes on re-eypor-
tation of contraband or non-contra-
band, thus preventing supplies frena
reaching Germany. With this soy;
ereign right the United States does
not take issue, but it will insist on
its rights to ship to neutral countries
placing the burden Of stopping FUR
ther progress on the latter nations
themselves.
In considering the foregoing propo-5
sitions officials realize that Great
Britain and her allies have set up the
claim that their actions constitute re-
taliatory measures against Germany,
but this, in the view Of the American
government, does not affect the
status Of International law as be-
tween the United States and the bell
ligerents.
The American attitude has not
been changed materially as a result
Of explanations in the exchange OF
notes with Great Britain and France:
After inquiring what would be the
disposition of various kinds OF ship
ments the American government ask
ed "upon what principles of interna-
tional law would it rest?"
"And upon what rule If no block
ade is maintained and declared, Il
continued, could the cargo OF a neu-s
tral ship sailing out Of German port
be condemned? II it is not. con-.
demned, what other legal course Is
there but to release it,"
Great Britain's answer has indicate
ed that the cargoeS diverted into
British ports and owned by neutrals
be restored to their owners, but this
will not affect the insistence Of the:
United States on the legal rights OF.
it's subjects to ship cargoes OF a nom
contraband character to and FROM
neutral countries without Interrupt
ton and regardless OF their destina-
ton. *
During the civil war. the United
States enforced a rigid blockade of.
the Southern waters by stopping car-s
goes while plying between neutral
ports, but in the famous Matamoros
cases, finally ruled upon by Chief
Justice Chase, Of the Supreme Court:
Of the United States, the rule OF
blockade and continuous voyage IN
shipments between England and
Mexico were not held to- extend tos
goods of a non-contraband character
State department officials, recalling
the case, pointed out that non-contFa-3
band goods were released and per-
mitted to be forwarded to their destt-;
nation in the Confederate States.
These cases have formed the prece-
dent for American practice ever since;
the decisions were accepted by Great;
Britain at the time as equitable.
High officials said no communica-y
ton to the allies had been finally.
drafted. It was declared at the state
department that, although the word
"blockade' is used by Great Britain.
in describing the object Of her new
measures, the American soEernmenza
considers that blockade is a Ques-s
tion Of fact and requires certain adj
vance notifications to that eject
which have not been given.
The order in council, it was point
ed out, did not mention blockade. "
nor was any exact radius Of activi-
ty" given limiting the area Of opera
tions, the announcement merely cons
fning it to :"European waters, in-I
cluding the Mediterranean"
The belief of high officials Is thar
Great Britain to continue her outlin-I
ed course would be obliged finally to
admit that there is no legal basis for
her action, and that it is solely re-l
taliato-y measure resulting from the
exigencies of war.
EichWaymen Shoot Agent.