New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-05
I'VE AND THE ENGLISH"
A Comparison Between Two Elk
amples of Blockade.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Permit me to dissent in the most
friendly way from the sentiments expressed
in YOUR editorial entitled eve and the Eng
lish" in to-day's issue Of your valued jour
nal. The words you are entirely too
strong, for the British blockade" no more
transcends international law than the Amer
lean BLOCKADE" of the Southern States
transcribed international law in the Civil
War.
First. as to the Civil War blockade, it
was decreed when no legal state of war ex'
isted-merely a rebellion. 1t was then in
the form of so-called pacific blockade, but
the rule of pacific blockade was that the
blockading force should deal only with its
own nationals and the nationals of the ports
or coast blockaded. Instead of protesting
against a breach of international law. as
some people are urging upon your govern
ment TO do in the present instance, Great
Britain and France legaized your blockade
by recognizing a de facto belligerency. Your
courts also evolved the doctrine of continu-
Gus voyage, etc.-that is, they applied the
principles of international law in a new
way If the United States had the right to
apply the principles of international law in
a new way, surely Great Britain has the
same right / believe that when your Presi-
dent fully studies the matter he will be in
cIined to admit so, too. In the Spanish
American War your courts condemned a YES
sci bound for a Cuban port, although no
blockade had been declared, on the ground
that there was de facto blockade. In the
Civil War your country also blockaded neu-
trail ports, as the Bermudas and the Ba-
hamas.
The fact in connection with the present
blockade is that under the law of blockade
everything entering or leaving the blockaded
area is contraband. If Germany is allowed
to export and import her goods through neu-
trail ports the blockade will not be effec-
tive. The argument that the Orders in Coun-
Gil do not constitute blockade is a qub-
bic, for Great Britain notified the United
States that she would enforce the Orders in
Council by a form OF blockade maintained
by swift cruisers.
| carefully scanned the list of importers
who protested to Washington, and found that
in almost every case they bear German
names and probably are German nationals.
If the United States could be induced to
take up the cause of German nationals il
might be close on breach of neutrality for
the duty of neutral government is not to
interfere in the conduct of war or at
tempt to secure for Germany any advantage
which her navy cannot secure for herself
Another point is that trading with Ger
many is an enemy privilege. Under inter
national law the neutral trader when in
jured has the right of compensation.
Still another point to be observed is that
the argument with Great Britain is purely
. legal matter. and if some flaws are found
in an Order in Council it can be remedied
TO overcome these flaws
| fully agree with you that it would be
unwise 10 cause needless friction. We in
Canada are friendly to the United States
and look upon your country with, | might
say, an affection second only to that which
we feel toward the mother land. We have
been customers of the United States to the
extent of around and over $500, 900
year for several years, and present market
which will widely expand after the close of
the present war. IL would be a pity to stir
up needless friction and hurt the trade rela-
tons between the two countries. We have
long recognized in the United States the
best neighbor that we could have, but in
controversy between Great Britain and the
United States we would of course, support
the cause where our honor lies.
Another great point about naval block
ade" is that it is a humane way of shorten
ing war. There is no danger of Germany
actually starving; that is simply a clever bit
OF German press campaign, and any vital
hardships wrought are due to the immense
number OF people under arms, leaving Ger
man society scarcely able to support the
ones at home by its industry. II the block
ade of Germany were relaxed she would be