Evening star., 1915-03-07
lEMBARGO SITUATION LIKE,
THAT OF A CENTURY AGO

|EW words cover a more extensive
IS field than the word embargo. Like
q a tropical fever It may be mild in
it's results or 1t may ha pestilentia1.
During the Mexican trouble an embargo
was placed on the expectation of arms
across the Texas border. and was rigid
ly enforced. In 1907 an embargo was
placed on all ships, and the result was
astonishing.
The present status of United States
commerce in relation to the European
war has called forth from statesmen
the expression Of belief that sooner or
later this nation will be called upon to
restrict the movements of all its mer-
chant ships. Mines in watefs hereto
fore considered neutral territory. the
threat by Germany of a general de-
struction of neutral commerce, and the
determination of Great Britain that no
ships shall reach the enemy's ports
have combined to lead to this belief.
The present European situation re-
sembles the conditions existing Just
prior to the war of 1872. Save that
England has not searched American
ships and impressed American seamen
into English service; also has forborne
an attitude of aggression, the letters
written by Thomas Jefferson, Madlson
and others might apply to the present
war
England is watching Germanys ports
A century ago she was blockadlng the
ports of France. Germany Is prepar-
ing a campaign of reprisal throughout
did. Neutral nations take their chances
x
T, T., to
effort to establish government-owned
merchant marine, and this was Wldeiy
discussed at the time of the embargo
100 odd years ago. Thomas Jenerson'
it appears. did not favor the creation
of a government-owned merchant ma
rine One thing which the unlteo
States embargo of 1S07-9 estaoilsheo
beyond question was that the navy OF
the United States-from frigates to the
smallest craft-could not effectively
stop all commerce.
A letter by John Quincy Adams. then
United States senator. to Harrison
Gray Otis, sets forth in detail the rea-
sons for the embargo. This letter was
issued in reply to the many criticisms
that had descended upon the admins
tration as the result of it's action.
Adams explained that the closure OF
all American ports was "a shelter from
the tempest" and "a last refuge OF our
violated peace" The writer asserts
that the embargo is to be considered
only as a temporary expedient. to de-
fend the ships of this country from an
Outrageous violation of our neutral
rights" He then pleads for bigger
navy. He admits that such navy can
not hope to protect the merchant ships,
but that it would be possible, with
stronger fleets, to defend the cities
along the eastern seaboard from preda-
tory English men-of-war. AS he
phrases it, this larger fleet could stop
threats"
Going into the question Of the i'm
pressment of American sailors, he calis
attention to the fact that the Engilsn
government has always claimed the
right to remove English seamen from
foreign vessels. Here follows
curious bit of logic on the part OF Eng
land in defense of her position:
/. Americans and English look SO
much alike that it is impossible to dis
tinguish them.
2 The number of Americans actually
impressed is negligible.
g. When their identity is established,
they are promptly given up.
Authorities at the time made the as
sertion that England attempted no in
yestigation or discrimination in the
impressment Of sailors, that the num-
ber of sailors seized ran into the thou
sands, and that three-quarters of these
were Americans; also that once an