East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-03-18
ALLIES LIMIT THEIR
BLOCKADE 70 WATERS
N EUROPEAN ZONE
TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC EX.
CHANGES ARE MADE PUB
LIC AT WASHINGTON.
Radius OF Activity Is Defined When
Protest OF United States Points
Out the serious State OF Affairs
That Might Be Result OF Unre-
strlcted Area.

WASHINGTON, March 1s.-Six
diplomatic notes were made public
last night By the state department,
constituting the entire correspond
ence OF the last few weeks between
the United States and Germany and
between the United States and Great
Britain and France relative TO the
abandonment OF submarine attacks
on merchant ships the shipment OF
conditional contraband and food
stuffs to civilians In belligerent
country. the use OF neutral flags By
belligerent merchantmen. the re-
moval OF mines, and the proclama
ton Of virtual blockade by the al
lies against Germany.
The communication revealed that
the United States government real
izing the difficulties Of maintaining
an effective blockade by close
guard Of an enemy coast on account
OF the submarines, asked that a 'ra-
dlus OF activity" be defined. Great
Britain and France replied with the
announcement that the operations Of
the blockade would be conducted
Outside OF European waters. includ-
ing the Mediterranean"
Germany's Proposal Rejected.
While Germany agreed 1t Is dis
closed, TO abandon her submarine at
tacks on mercantile OF any FLAG"
except when they resist visit or
search. provided foodstuffs were per
mitted to reach her civilian popula-
ton Great Britain and her allies re-
jected the proposal originally made
by the United States government in
an effort to bring the belligerents in
to an arrangement which would safe
guard the interests OF neutrals
Furthermore. the documents show
that In a message OF inquiry to Great
Britain and France the United States
asked whether the embargo on all
commerce between Germany and
neutral countries was to be carried
out under the rules OF a blockade or
by interference with ships and car
goes. las II no blockade existed"
The two together presented in the
view OF the American government "a
proposed course OF action previous
~ unknown to International law"
Blockade Made in New Form.
The answers from both Great Brit
ain and France reveal for the first
time that the allies officially regard
ed their policy as a blockade" but
desire to refrain from exercising the
rights Of belligerents under a block
ade TO confiscate ships and cargoes
as a penalty for breach of block
ade. substitution for it procedure in
prize courts and compensation
through sale OF the detained mer-
chandise.
The definition of radius of ac-
tivity' for the allied fleet in Euro
pean waters. including the Mediter-
ranean is the first intimation Of the
limits of the blockade.
Its limits were not given more exact
~. the allies claim. because Germany
was equally indefinite in proclaiming
all the waters surrounding Great
Britain and Ireland war zone"
American Hint Is Answered.
The restriction of the area of op-
,rations Of the blockade TO European
waters followed this observation by
he United states TO both Great Brit
lin and France:
while this government is fully
live to the possibility that the meth
IDS OF medern naval warfare partic-
Ilarly in the use of the submarine
or both defensive and offensive op-
Tations. may make the former
means Of maintaining a blockade a
hysical impossibility. 1t feels that 1t
an be urged with great force that
here should be also some limit TO
the radius of activity" and espec-
lily so IL this action by the belliger-
nts can be construed to be a block
de, it would certainly create seri-
us state of affairs II, for example, 1,
n American vessel laden with a
lrgo Of German origin should escape :
he British patrol in European wa
,rs only to be held up by a cruiser 4
n New York and taken into Hall
lXn