St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-08-07
Engla!nd!,s Note

A1A5IO110 TWIN
RI II ot rs &c Ia te-a Il
Cd. CONTINUED T. I'm Page IL ~
received from your excellency the
right Of q belligerent to establish a
blockade of the enemy ports is ad-
mitted, right which has obviously
no value save insofar as it gives
power to a belligerent to cut off the
sea-borne exports and imports of his
enemy. The contention which un-
|derstand the United States govern
ment now puts forward is that If a
belligerent is SO circumstanced that
his commerce can pass through ad-
jacent neutral ports as easily as
through ports in his own territory,
his opponent has no right TO inter-
fere and must restrict his nea 'Yres
of blockade in such manner as to
leave such avenues of commerce still
open to his adversary. This is a
contentiot which his majesty's gov
eminent feels unable to accept: and
which seems to them unsustainabla
either in point of law or upon rrin-
ciples of of international equity.
They are unable to admit that a
belligerent violates any fundamental
principles of international law by
applying blockade in such a way
as to cut off the enemy's commerce
with foreign countries through neu-
trail ports, il the circumstances rem
der such an application of the prin-
oiples of blockade the only means of
making it effective.
The government of the United
States, indeed, intimates it's readi-
ness to take into account the great
changes which have occurred in the
conditions and means of naval war
fare since the rules hitherto govern
ing legal blockade were formulated,
ard recognizes that the form Of
blockade with its Gordon OF ships in
the immediate offing of the block
AIDED ports is no longer p-actica Bile
in the face of an enemy POSSESSING
the means and opportunity to make
an effective defense by the use of
submarines, mines and air craft
| The only question, then, which
can arise, in regard to the measures
resorted to for the purpose of carry
ing out q blockade upon these ex-
tended lines is, whether to use vour
excellency's words, they conform to
the spirit and principles OF the es.
sence OF the rules of war; and we
shall be content to apply this test to
the action which we have taken in
SO Tar as it has necessitated interfer.
ence with neutral commerce"
Sir Edward Grey then refers Ia
the American Civil war blockade al
5000 miles Of coast with a small
number OF vessels, and recalls how
the United States finally took re-
course to blockading .neiehborina
neutral territory which afforded
convenient centers from which con.
traoand could be introduced into
Confederate territory and from which
blockade running could be facil.
Iitated." A"s'''
Brings Up Civil War Practice.
your Excellency will NO doub,
remember" wrote Sir Edward. ..hov
IN order to meet this new difficulty
the principles relating to contra.
band and blockade were deyeloped
and the doctrine Of continuous vow.
age was applied and enforced. unde,
which goods destined for the en-.
|emy's territory were intercepted he
fore they reached neutral ports from
which they were to be re-exported.
The difficulties which imposed
upon the United States thu necessit,
OF reshaptng some Of the old rule,
are somewhat akain to those with
which the Allies are now faced n
dealing with the trade of their on.
envy. Adjacent to Germany are va.
r1ous neutral countries which afford
ner convenient opportunities for car.
rylng on her trade with foreign coun.
tries. Her own territories are GOV.
lered by network Of railways and
waterways, which enable her com.
merce could pass almost as easil,
through the ports in her own terri.
tory. >. 80. "
Rotterdam is indeed the nearest
outlet Tor some of the industrial dis.
tr1ct OF Germany. It seems
accordingly, that if it be recognized
that blockade is in certain cases
the appropriate method of inherent.
ing the trade of an enemy countr,
and il the blockade can only become
effective by extending it to enemy
commerce passing through neutral
ports, such an extension is defensi.
Die and in accordance with PRINCIPLES
which have met with general accept.
ance."
Mitigates Old Time Severity.
The note refers to the case of the
British ship springbok, seized BY
United States cruisers during the
Civil war while bound for the British
West Indies, because her cargo, il
was charged, was to be transshipped
to the Confederate states. The ST.
preme court of the United States sus-
tanned the seizure against the con.
demnation of group of prominent
International lawyers, although the
United States and British govern
ments took the broader view and rec
ognized the development of the older
method of blockade. No protest was
made by Great Britain.
What is really important, in the
general interest,"" says the note. sis
that adaptations of the old rules
should not be made unless they are
consistent with the general principle
upon which an admitted belligerent
right is based. 1t is also essential
n