New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-08
Germany's Threat of Lynch Law
Against Neutral Shipping.

IN The memorandum which II has addressed 70
neutral nations the German Foreign Office tries
20 produce an adequate justification Of the war
zone" proclamation by virtue Of which Germany
hopes TO deter neutrals from engaging IN COM
MERGE with Great Britain and Ireland. What Ger
many has to say in defence OF her extraordinary
policy of intimidation is entitled TO serious atten
ton. Yet Il must be clear 70 any one who reaos
the memorandum that It offers no satisfactory
EXPLANATION Of the clauses Of the proclamation
which particularly menace the rights Of neutral
nations.
Il ts natural enough FOR Germany to complain
Of the measures taken by Great Britain to en-
force an indirect blockade OF German ports From
the German point Of view the British government
has exercised with extreme harshness the right
Of search and the right Of a belligerent TO define
and deal with contraband. Neutral nations-the
United States among them-have protested
against British practices which have unduly held
up ships and cargoes destined TO neutral ports
But our government has certainly never had occa-
sion 70 challenge the validity Of the principles
which Great Britain has applied. In our Civil
War we took a very advanced stand on the rights
Of belligerent dealing with traffic In contrabsnd.
From our point Of view British procedure has
been regular in form; 1t Is only the unnecessary
inconvenience caused by delay and official red tape
which we have complained Of
Great Britain has made all seizures Of neutral
ships and cargoes subject TO the action of her
prize courts. The neutral owner gets hearing
before a tribunal which must consider the rules
and precedents Of international law Even after
condemnation diplomatic action may intervene
and dispute over neutral rights may be sent TO
an international board Of arbitration. What Ger
many threatens 10 do is TO take a short cut
through the formalites Of the international code,
send neutral ships 10 the bottom with their crews,
Messengers and cargo and then discuss with
aeprieved neutral nations the legitimacy Of such
summary action. In the German Admiralty's abb
breviated procedure for enforcing contraband
rules there will be no producible corpus deficit to
wrange over.
1t may not directly concern neutrals that Ger
many intends TO depart from the rules Of warfare
at sea and sink British merchant vessels without
warning or mercy. That would be only one more
relapse toward fundamentally surprising IN
view Of many earlier violations Of the rules Of
civilized warfare land. The citizens Of neutral
nations now have fair warning to avoid taking
passage or risking their goods on endangered
British chips.
But neutral nations are directly and vitality con-
cerned in the suggestion, made In the German Ad-
miraity proclamation and again in the Foreign
Office memorandum, that at Is advisable for neu-
trail ships 70 avoid entering this area TALL the
waters surrounding Great Britain and 1relandl F.,
for even though the German naval forces have In
structions 70 avoid violence 70 neutral ships, IN 90
far as they arc recognizable, in view Of the mis-
use Of neutral flags ordered by the British govern
ment and the contingencies Of naval warfare,
their becoming victims Of torpedoes directed
against enemy ships cannot always be sverted."
So long as Germany does not maintain real
blockade Of Great Britain and Ireland neutral
ships have q perfect right TO enter British and
Irish ports subject only to the risk Of seizure and
condemnation because they carry contraband.
Those waters are from the point Of view Of inter
national law free and open to all corners, and
though Germany might deny liability for damage
done by floating mines. she could never escape re-
sponsibiity for deliberately sinking neutral yes
sci Just because II happened TO be heading for a
non-bockaded British port. II is the duty Of the
commander Of q warship enforcing contraband
procamatons TO hold up and visit neutral ship
before taking any action against either the ship
or the cargo. Discharging torpedoes on suspicion
would be only military form OF running amuck
No neutral nation which respects itself can as
sent to the arrogant invasion OF neutral rights
which Germany seems inclined to undertake.
mere form Of paper blockade proclaimed against
Great Britain and Ireland does not entitle her to
put all neutral ships entering British and Irish
waters into the category Of blockade runners.
American ships will undoubtedly continue TO clear
for British and Irish ports as they are entitled TO
do. And II Germany torpedoes them, by acct
dent" or otherwise she will do so to her own bitter
cost