The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-08-05
BLOCKADE OF NEUTRAL PORTS.
Forecast of Supplemental Note Great
Britain Will Send United States.

Washington, July 2S.-Defence of
the rights of belligerents to blockade
a neutral port through which an ene-
my is receiving supplies or attempt
ing to market his own products is
the chief argument that will be made
in the supplemental note Great Brl-
tain is preparing in reply to the Amer
lean protest against enforcement OF
orders in council The original. note,
received last Monday, has been with
held from publication at the request
of the British foreign office, pending
the arrival of the supplemental COM
munication expected within week.
All other issues than that of the
blockade of neutral ports. it is learn
ed, will be regarded by the British
government as subsidiary and proper
for later discussion.
On recognition by neutral govern
ments of the principle from the Brit
ish viewpoint depends the ability OF
belliserent, which otherwise has es-
tablished control of the sea. to profit
by the enormous expenditure and sac
rifice which made possible the con-
troll. The matter is all important in
the British view. Two developments
not discussed in the original note will
be taken up in the supplemental COM
munication.
Not Yet Discussed.
The first IS the American caveat OF
July II, conveying the notification
8 that the United States would not rec
ognize the orders in council as sub
stitute for provisions of international
laws. The second arose in connec-
tion with the enforced unloading at
London of the cargo of the American
steamer Neches June 2. The ship
was en- route from Rotterdam to New
York with a cargo of non-contraband.
mostly Of German and Belgian origin.
The British asserted the right under
its blockade of Germany and that part
of Belgium at present under German
control to prevent any goods from be-
ing exported the sale Of which might
aid the enemy financially. L.
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 ene-
my country, it is believed the British
foreign Office felt it necessary to sup
plement the original note by an argu-
ment extending the claim to cover
the case of goods exported from the
enemy country through neutral
port.
Civil War Precedents.
Civil war precedents on the right OF
blockade form the chief basis of the
British argument, attention being
separately called to the famous
AssSpringbok" case before the United
states supreme court developing the
..continuous voyage theory Though
this doctrine which, it is asserted,
justifies belligerent in blockadlng
neutral port was strongly resisted by
European nations, the fact that it was
accepted by the Alabama claims arbi-
tration was sufficient to make it an
endurable principle of law according
to the British view. Therefore, the
order in council which is believed by
British officials to be entirely in ac-
cord with that theory, will continue
to be applied, although with due de-
ference to the protection Of legitimate
neutral trade.
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
Z damage to American trade.
American Trade Figures.
g According to the British view, that
trade has waxed enormously large
since the beginning of the war. Amer
ican treasury figures showing an in
crease of 2,000,0O0,0O0 in exports
during eleven months, while Ameri-
can ocean freight has grown by 144,-
900 tons, significant as indicating the
amount of American goods entering
Germany and Austria.
Attention is directed to statements
that American exports to the Neither
lands have increased from S93.OOO,-
600 to s122. 2.00O,O00; to Sweden from
sl3,000.0OO to s71, 100000; to Nor
way from 100000 to $35.O00.o0o,
and TO Denmark from S13,OoO,O0O to
s70,000.000.
That America received a fair sup
ply of goods from Germany, not
withstanding the war is shown. the
British claim, by the fact that IN
eight months the imports from that
country to the United State aggregat-