Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-29
NEUTRAL BLOCKADE
DEFENDED IN NOTE
Position Taken by British Gov
eminent Is Outlined
UnofficiaIIy.

|
American government from Great
Britain which has been promised with
In a week. Although there is no ON
cial advice as to what this new COM
munication will lay before the United
| States. the opinion Of those best in
formed in this subject is as follows:
Defense of the right Of belligerent
| to blockade a neutral port through
which an enemy Is receiving supplies
or attempting to market his own pro-
ducts Is the chief argument to be made
| in the supplemental note Great Britain
is preparing in reply to the American
orders in council.
Original Note Withheld.
The original note, received here last
! Monday. has been withheld from pub
lication at the request of Sir Edward
Grey, British foreign minister, pending
the arrival of the supplemental COM
munication, which is expected within a
week.
All other issues than that Of the
blockade of neutral ports will be re-
garded by the British government as
subsidiary and proper for later discus
sion.
Upon recognition by neutral govern
ments Of the principle from the British
viewpoint depends the ability of bel
ligerent which has otherwise establish
ed control of the seats to profit by the
enormous expenditure and sacrifice
which made possible that control. The
matter is all-important In the British
view.
Two developments not discussed in
the original note will be taken up in
the supplemental communication.
The first Of these 10 the American
caveat of July II. conveying the noti-
&c..
eminent would not recognize the or
ders in council as a substitute for tho
provisions of international law.
British Position.
The second point arose in connection
with the enforced unloading on the
London docks of the cargo Of the Amer
lean steamer Neches June "a. Tho ship
was en- route from Rotterdam to New
York with a cargo of non contraba
mostly of German and Belgian origin.
1t included several thousand prayer
books. rabbit skins, drugs. and even
asserted the right. under its blockade
of Germany and that part of Belgium
at present under German control, to
prevent any goods from being export
ed the sale of which might aid the en-
envy financially
Because the principal British argu-
ment is directed to that phase of the
right of blockade which affects goods
sought to be introduced into an enc
mys country, 1t Is believed that the
British foreign Office felt it necessary
to supplement the original note by an
argument extending the claim to cover
the case of goods exported from the
enemy country through a neutral port
Civil war precedents In regard to the
right of blockade form the chief basis
of the British argument, attention being
separately called to the famous Spring
box" case before the United States Su-
preme Court. developing the ''continu-
Gus voyage" theory. Though this doc
trine. which. 1t Is asserted. justifies a
belligerent in blockading a neutral
port, was strongly resisted by Euro
pean nations. the fact that it was final
ly accepted In its entirety by the Ala
bama claims arbitration, was sufficient
to make it an enduring principle Of in
ternational law. according to the Brit
ish view. Therefore, the order In coun-
Gil, which is believed by British officials
to be entirely in accord with that
theory. will continue to be applied. al
though with due Difference to the pro-
lection of legitimate neutral trade.
American Trade Expansion.
Incidentally it is contended by Great
Britain in it's communication that the
execution Of these orders In council SO
far has not resulted In any damage to
American trade. According to the Brit
ish view. that trade has waxed enor-
mously large since the beginning of
the war. American Treasury figures
showing an increase Of 5000, zoo, 900 in
exports during eleven months. while
the American ocean freight has grown
by $4,000 tons.
Significant as indicating the amount
Of American goods entering Germany
and Austria attention Is directed to
have Increased from ss,ooo.ooo to
S122.ooo.oo0; to Sweden from $4,000
900 to $71.ooo.ooo: to Norway from
mark from e So to SIG %
That America received a fair supply
of goods from Germany notwithstand-
ing the war is shown. the British gov
eminent claims. by the fact that in
country to the United States aggre-
gated $s6.0o0.000. and it 10 also noted
that the import Of dyestuffs from Ger
many was greater than the previous
year.
Announcement From London.
LONDON. July 2s.-The new British
note to the United States in the course
Of preparation will be an application
Of the original American contraband
note, which arrived in Washington
Monday It will take up the questions
which have arisen since the hrst note
was drafted.
$780, 900, 900 IN GOODS TIED UP.
Lying on Docks at Rotterdam Be-
cause Of British Order in Council.
Goods consigned to American citi-
Gems valued at $16o,o00.ooo are lying
on the docks Of Rotterdam. Holland.
hold up by the British order in coun-