Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-06

such Il claim would be for her to
abandon and set at naught the princi-
pies for which she has consistently
and earnestly contended in other times
and circumstances.
The note of His Maicsty's principal
Secretary OF State for Foreign Affairs
which accompanies the order in coun-
ell. and which bears the same date
notifies the government OF the United
States of the establishment of a
blockade which is, if defined by the
terms of the order in council. to in
clude all the coasts and ports Of Ger
many and every port of possible ac-
cess to enemy territory. But the
novel and quite unprecedented feature
of that blockade. If we are to assume
II TO he properly so defined. is that IL
embraces many neutral ports and
coasts. bars access to them. and sub
jects all neutral ships seeking TO ap-
proach them TO the same suspicion
that would attach to them were they
bound for tho ports of the enemies of
Great Britain and to unusual risks and
penalties
DiSiiNN L INV ASiON
OF SOVEREIGN RIGHTS
ut is manifest that such limitations,
risks and liabilities placed upon the
ships OF a neutral power on the high
seas, beyond the right OF visit and
search. and the RICH, to prevent the
shipment of contrabund already re-
fcrrcd to, are n distinct invasion of the
sovereign rights of the nation whose
ships. trade. or commerce, IS intcrfercd
with.
The government OF the United States
Is. of course, not oblivious to the great
changes which have occurred in the
conditions and means OF naval warfar re
since the rules hitherto governing legal
blockade were formulated. 1T might be
ready to admit that the old form OF
rlose blockade. witt, its gordon Of ships
IL the immediate ofling Of the blockadcd
ports is no longer practica BILE in face of
an enemy possessing the means and OPP
portun!ty to make an effective defensive
by the use of submarines, mines, and
aircraft: but il can hardly be main
tanned that, whatever form OF effective
blockade may he made use of, IL is i'm
possible Ia conform 1T least TO the shirt
and principles OF the established rules
II war. IL the necessities OF the case
should seem TO render il imperative
that tn. Gordon OF blockadinC vessels
De extended across the approaches to
any ncighborinE neutral port or coun-
try. it would seem clear that il would
still be easily practicable to comply
With The well-recoGnizcd and reason
able prohibition Of international law
against the blockading OF neutral ports
by according free admission and exit
TO all lawful traffic with neutral ports
through the blockading Gordon. This
traffic would, of course include all out
ward bound traffic from the neutral
country. aud all inward bound traffic to
In transit to tho enemy. Such proceed
urc need not conflict in any respect with
the rights of the belligercnt ma ,ntaining
the blockade. since the right would re-
main with the blockading vessels to
visit and search nil ships either enter
ing or leaving the neutral territory
which they Were, in fact. but not OF
right, investing.
WITHOUT PRECEDENT
IN MODERN WARFARE
The government OF the United states
notes that in the order i'll council, His
Majesty's government give as their rea :
son FOR entering upon course OF ac-
ZION which ihey are aware Is without
precedent in modern warfare, the ne
ccssity they conceive themselves to
have been placed under to retallatc
similar nature which the latter have an
nounccd IL their intention TO adopt. and
which they have To some extent adopt
ed; but the government of the United
states. recalling the principles upon
which His Majesty's government hither-
10 has been scrupulous to act, inter
pretS this as merely reason for GER
tain extraordinary activities on the
part OF His Ma jesty's naval forces, and
not as an excuse for or prelude to any
unlawful action. II the course pursued
by the prcScat enemies of Great T3ritn in
should prove To be in fact tinted by
illegality and disregard OF the prin-
cipi"s or war sanctioned by enlightened
nations. it cannot be supposed, and this
government does not for a moment sun
pose. that His Majesty's government
would wish the same faint to attach TO
their own actions or would cite such
illegal acts as In any sense or degree
Justification for similar practices on
their part Insofar as they affect neutral
rights.
1t is thus that the government Of
the United States intcrprets the lam
Eungc OF the note OF His Majesy's Prin-
cipal Secretary OF State for Foreign AZ
fairs. which accompanies tho copy of
the order In council which was handed
TO the ambassador of the United States
near the government in London. and by
him transmitted 10 Washington,
WIDE: DISCRETION
GIVEN PRIZE COURT
This government notes with graft
fCati0n that wide discretion is at
.fordcd 10 the prize court in dealing with
| the trade Of ncutrals In such manner as
may in the circumstances he deemed
just. and that full provision is made 10
facilitate claims by persons Interested
| in any goods placed in the custody OF
the marshal OF the prize court under the
order; that "the effect OF the order In
council Is to confer certain powcrs unon
the executive officers OF His Mnjcsty's
government; and that the extent to
which these powers will be actually OK
crcisCd, and the degree of severity yyitb