The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-03-16
AMERICAN NOTE
MEETS REFUSAL
Will Not Permit fOodstuffs to
Reach German Civilians
REPLY TO AMBASSADORS NOTE is
BASED ON ORDER IN COUNCIL
Prize Court Officials Given Wide Dis
cretion in Handling Captures of Neu-
trail Nations.

London Great Britafn made
known to the world Monday in a for
NAL proclamation, signed in council
by the king and issued from Bucking-
nam palace, how she proposes to
sever all the arteries of sea COM
merce to and from Germany during
the period of the war.
AS in Premier Asquiths speech fore
casting the order, the term blockade"
is not used and no prohibited area is
defined. Nevertheless, the text of the
order makes it plain England's purpose
to prevent commodities of any kind
from reaching or leaving Germany dur
ing the war.
Property Rights Observed.
British officials Monday night frank
ly called the movement a blockade,
the foreign office describing it as an
effective blockade, differing from the
effective blockades of history only in
that the property seized will not be con-
fiscated outright, but sold, the pro-
ceeds eventually going to the owners.
In the last clause of the proclama-
tion is the proposal most interesting
to neutrals. This is flat agreement
to lift the blockade" in case any ma
ton will certify that the ships flying
its flag shall not carry goods to Ger
many or originating therein or be-
longing to the subjects of the Ger
man empire
Maintain Gordon of Ships.
1t is notable that the order declares
no intention to capture ships of Ger
man allies, Austria and Turkey, the
reason being no doubt, that the meas
ure is avowedly reprisal against the
German submarine warfare. How
ever, Gordon of ships will be main
tanned to shut off the commerce of,
German ports and regulate trade in
the war zone, although ships voyaging
eastward across the Atlantic will, it
is expected, be seized before they reach
the North sea
When a neutral vessel is held up,
in all cases, except where there is
false declaration of destination, or 9TH
er attempt at subterfuge, the cargo
only will be seized provided it is not
A copy Of the order in council was
handed to the American ambassador
Monday night for transmission to
Washington.
Wide Discretion Allowed.
The foreign office emphasizes the
fact that wide discretion is allowed
prize court officials handling neutral
claims. Prominent officials urge upon
neutral governments to bear in mind
that many powers are conferred by
the order on the officers entrusted
with the disposition of detained car
goes, and instructions will be given
these men to act with the greatest dis
Patch consistent with the proper per-
formance of their tasks.
The elasticity of the order insofar
as it affects neutrals is pointed out
by the foreign office, which has called
attention from the first announcement
of the reprisal policy to the fact that
the regulations are not infleXible
where the rights of neutrals are con-
cemed.
While the order is absolute insofar
as ships to and from German ports
are concerned, using the word must"
in stipulating how goods shall be dis
charged in English ports, the provl-
sions concerning cargoes destined for
neutral ports set forth that they may
be required to discharge" at British
ports.
This language is typical Of the gen.
eral attitude Of British officials to-
ward neutral Statesman.