The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-11-10

navian countries" The recent plac-
ing of cotton on the British list of
contraband is spoken Of as making it
appear that the British government
themselves have been forced to the
conclusion that the blockade is inef-
rectiVe to prevent shipments of cotton
from reaching their enemies. or else
ina. they are doubtful as to the legal
lty Of the form Of blockade which
they have sought to maintain"
20. Decisions are cited to show that
IL is an essential principle, universally
accepted, that a blockade must apply
impartially to the ships of all nations.
and it is added that "if belligerents
themselves trade with blockaded
ports,' the principle in the past has
been that they can not be regarded
as effectively blockaded. These de-
clsions are referred to "since it is a
matter of common knowledge that
Great Britain exports and reexports
large quantities of merchandise to
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Hol-
land, whose ports, so far as Ameri-
can commerce is concerned, she re-
| garded as blockaded."
| Il. The principles of the laws Of
nations which forbid the blockade of
Eneutral ports in time Of war, en-
podied in that part of the declaration
OF London adopted by Great Britain
as to blockade, are discussed and
several decisions Of the British prize
Tcourts prior to the present war are
well as the Matamoras cases in the
EAmerican Civil war are recalled to
support the contention of the United
States.
/ 22. Measured by "the three univer-
sally conceded tests the present Brit
ish measures can not be regarded as
constituting a blockade, in law, in
practice or in effect"
"' VI Hi"i ioliCe Is given CnaC the
blockade" which Great Britain
claims to have instituted under the
order in council Of March II can not
be recognized as a legal blockade by
the United States"
"a. The British view Of the famous
SpringbOx case before the outbreak
of the present war is cited to sup
port the American contentious.
rs to 35 inclusive. These deal ex-
haustively with the modes of judicial
redress for citizens Of neutral coun-
tries. and reach certain general con-
clusiOns. "The government OF the
United States" the note says, "has
viewed with surprise and concern the
attemnt Of his M iestv'e rovcrrr,ent
20 cortc" upon tno british prize courts
jurisdiction by the nleeal exercise Of
force in order thar theso courts may
apply 10 vessels and cargoes " neutral
nationaiities. seized on the nigh seas,
municipal laws and, orders which can
only rightfully be enforcible within
the territorial waters of Great Britain
or against vessels OF British nationality
when on the high seas :. 80. The
United States government feels that
1t can not reasonably be expected to
advise it's citizens to seek redress be-
fore tribunals which are in it's opin-
ion unauthorized by the unrestricted
application Of international law to
grant reparation, nor to refrain from
presenting their claims directly to the
British government through diplo-
matte channels"
Secretary Lansing moreover denies
in this connection that the charges,
such as pilOtage, wharfage, unloading
costs, ETC., against a detained vessel
must be paid by the claimants, and
adds that the United States is 'Ioathe
to believe that such ungenerous treat
ment will continue to be accorded
American citizens" Any waivers of
indemnity eXacted from American
citizens under such conditions of
dcress.' it is declared, can not pre-
clude them from subsequently obtain
ing redress through diplomatic chan
nels.
A SUMTER MANS EXPERIENCE.