New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-16
Order i'm Council De-
Creeing Retaliation
Made Public
Will SONS FOOD
PLEA REJECTED
Right to Seize Ships
Practically Anywhere
Questioned.
US WATERS NOT SAFE
u. S. WATERS NOT SAFE
Foreign Office FlatIy Refuses to
Permit Food to Reach
Enemy.

London, March 10, 9:45 p. m.--Greae
Britain made known 10 the world to
day in a formal proclamation, signed
in Council by the King and issued from
buckingham Palace, how she purposes
TO sever all the arteries of sea COM
merce to and from Germany during tho
period of the war.
The British Foreign Office also de
livered to-day TO Ambassador Page its
reply to the American note proposing
to Great Britain and Germany the
withdrawal of the German submarine
blockade provided England would per-
nit food to reach German civilians.
Great Britain's reply is an absolute
refusal.
As in Premier Asquith's speech fore
casting the Order in Council, tho
term blockade" is not used and no
prohibited area is defined. NeSerthe-
less, the text of the order makes plain
Engsnd's purpose to prevent COM
podities of any kind from reaching or
leaving Germany during the war.
British officials tonight frankly
called the movement a blockade; tho
Foreign Office describing it rs an ef-
fective blockade, differing from the
effective blockades Of history oaly in
that the property seized will not be
Confiscated outright, but sold, the pro-
ceeds eventually going to the owners.
In the last clause OF the proclsma-
tion is the proposal most interesting
&c neutrsls This is a fat agreement
to lift the blockade" in case shy ma
ton will certify that the ships flying
its flag shall not carry goods 70 Ger
many, or originating therein or belong
ing to subjects of the German Empire.
Not Aimed at Germany's Allies.
1t is notable that the order declare
no intention TO capture ships to ana
from the countries OF Germany's al
lies, Austria and Turkey, the reason
being, no doubt, that the measure
is avOwedly reprisal against tho
German submarine warfare. However,
a Gordon of ships will be mainta ned 10
shut off the commerce of German ports
and regulate trade in the war zone, al
though ships voysging eastward across
the Atlantic will, il is expected. be
seized before they reach the North Sea,
Wnen neutral vessel is held up, in
all cases. cXcept where there is a false
declaration Of destination or other al
tempt at suOrerfuge, the cargo only
viii be seized.
A copy of the Order in Council was
handed 10 the American Ambassador
tonight for transmission TO Washing
ton.
The Foreign Office emphasizes the
fact that wide discretion is allowed
prize court officials handling neutral
claims. Prominent officials urge upon
neutral governments 10 bear i'm mind
that many powers are conferred by
the order on the officers intrusted with
the disposition of detained cargoes, and
instructions will be given these men
TO act with the greatest dispatch con
sistent with the proper performance OF
their tasks.
Order an Elastic One.
The elias ,icity of the order. in so far
as it affects neutrals, is pointed out
by the Foreign Office, which has called
attention from the first announcemnt
of the reprisal policy TO the fact that
the regulations arc not iufeXiblo
where the rights OF neutrals arc con-
corned.
While the order is absolute IN so far
As ships to and from German ports are
concerned, using the word must" IN
stipulating how goods shall be dis
charged IN English ports, the provi-
sions concerning cargoes destined for
neutral ports set forth that they may
be required to discharge" At British
ports. This language is typical Of tho
general attitude Of British officials
toward neutral trade.
The Foreign Office also delivered TO
the Ambassador Great Britain's reply
to the American note inquiring for
further information IN regard 20 tho
measures to be taken by the allied
powers 20 cut of trade TO and from
Germany. The reply to this note Is
based largely upon the Order i'm Coun-
ell which was issued to-day.
Great Britain's refusal 20 accept tho
American proposals TO this country
and Germany is due to the reasons out.