The Washington times., 1915-08-05
THE BLOCKADE pREcEDENTs

whether the Administration is doing
a real service in debating the cues
Itions of blockade running and con-
traband seizures with the allies. In
some aspects, the discussion sounds
as if the Washington Government
was going through the motions of
shadow boxing, knowing that it was
going to be compelled to take the
count, but meantime giving an ex-
hibition for the benefit of an audi
ence.
1t has been pointed out repeatedly
by The Times, with ample citation
Of case and precedent, that the Brit
ish government is merely standing
on the law which we laid down and
Britain accepted during the civil
war. We ought to be willing to
stand by our own decisions, now.
The British foreign office, late in. the
civil war, set an example which
might we'll be studied by our State
Department and the President.
American cruisers had seized a
ship and cargo, sent from England
to a neutral port adjacent to the
Confederate littoral. The American
prize court condemned the captive,
and It's British owners, much outraged
by what was admitted to be an ex-
pansion of the doctrine Of continu-
Gus voyages, wrote to the London
foreign Office asking it's intereession
to secure restoration Of their prop
erty.
The foreign secretary, Lord John
Russell, made a reply that will be
worth a million sterling to England
in the present discussion. He told
the owners that the government
could do nothing for them because
they had no case that would justify
it in interfering. He indicated that
Downing street recognized the great
difficulties that confront belligerents
in such cases, and had no desire to
add to them.
It must be borne In mind that this
was from the Palmerston ministry
hostile, generally, to the Federal
cause. But the Palmerston ministry
recognized that Britain could not in
sist upon a principle that at some
time in future would be antagonistic
to its own interests as a belligerent
Why should not the United States
be equally frank with It's own peo.
pie? The fact Is that the allies
"have the goods" on us, and they are
not going to surrender rights that
they once yielded to US. In the lona
run we will not insist on it, because
the common sense and plain facts
are against US, and both President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing will
recognize it.
Cotton has not been declared con
traband by England; the Londor
government plainly wants to avoit
that measure. But if people lik,
Senator Hoke Smith persist in max
ing trouble, if cheap and insincer'
politics is to be played, if this Gov
eminent is to go on with contention
that it knows it cannot at last sus
tain, the allies may be forced to Gu
the tangle straight through by de
claring cotton contraband. Then ou
last estate will be far worse thai
our first.
1t is just such an event tina
threatens, If our State Department
for the sake of playing to the gal
, leries, shall go ahead trying to de
fend the indefensible, to insist upol
, the impossible. Better be homes
{ with both our own people and tn
: foreign governments. Our futur
: position will be easier, our diplo
, macy will deserve more respect, an
] our people will be made to under
y stand the danger of being undul
4 venturesome in their commercial en-
| iterprises in war times and condi
|tions.
THE poi .lCR pRORR