East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-08-04
COURSE Is JUSTIFIED.
CONTINUED from page one.1

( ing violation OF the recognized rules
and principles Of civilized warfare of
which he has been guilty during the
present struggle"
Foe Accused OF Atrocities.
Sir Edward then refers to atrocities
in Belgium, poisoning Of wells in
German Southwest Africa, use Of
poisonous gases against the allied
troops in Flanders and finally the
sinking of the Lusitania. 10 show
how Indispensable it is that we
should leave unused no justifab,e
method Of defending ourselves
Coming down to the question Of
the allied blockade OF neutral ports
the note continues
In the various notes which /
have received from your excellency.
the right OF belligerent to establish
a blockade bf the enemy ports IS ad-
mitted. a right which has obviously
no value save insofar as it gives
power to belligerent to cut off the
a-borne ports and imports of his
enemy.
THE contention which | under
stand the United States government
now puts forward is that if a bellig".-
ent is so circumstan6ed that his COM
merce can pass through adjacent neu-
tral ports as easily as though ports
in his own territory his opponent has
no right to interfere and must re-
strict his measures of blockades In
such a manner as to leave avenues
OF commerce still open to his adver-
sary. This is contention which
his majestys government feels un-
able to accept and which seems TO
them unsustainable either in point OF
law or upon principles of interna-
tional equity.
Fundamental Violation Not Admitted
They are unable to admit that
belligerent violates any fundamental
principle of international law by ap-
plying a blockade in such way as
to cut off the enemy's commerce
with foreign countries through neu-
trail ports, If the circumstances rem
der such an application of the prin-
ciples of blockade the only means of
making IT effective The government
of the United States, indeed. inti-
mates its readiness to take into ac-
count the great changes which have
occurred in the conditions and
means of naval warfare since the
rules hitherto governing legal block
ade were formulated, and recogniz-
es that the form of close blockade
with its Gordon Of ships in the i'm
mediate offlng of the blockaded ports
is no longer practicable in the face
Of an enemy possessing the means
and opportunity to make an effective
defense by the use Of submarines,
mines and aircraft
"The only question. then. Nhich
can arise in regard to the measures
resorted to for the purpose of carry
ing out a blockade upon these ex-
tended lines, it, whether to use y0dr
excellency's words they conform to
the spirit and principles Of the es-
sence Of the rules Of war, and we
shall be content to apply this tes. to
the action which we have taken. in /
sofar as it has necessitated interfer-
ence with neutral commerce" (
Civi1 War Precedent cited.
Sir Edward Grey then refers TO
the American civil war blockad. of
300 miles Of coast with a small num-
Der Of vessels and recalls how the
United States finally took recourse
to bloekading 'neighboring neutral
territory which afforded convenient
center from which contraband :ould
be introduced into confederate terri
tory. and from which blockade run
ming could be facilitated" /
Your excellency will no doub- re.
member" writes Sir Edward, chow,
in order 20 meet this new difficulty.
the old principles relating to CON
traband and blockade were develop
I'D and the doctrine Of continuous
voyage was applied and enforced, un-
der which goods destined for the en-
emy territory were intercepted be-
fore they reached the neutral ports
from which they were to he feex-
ported.
The difficulties which imposed
upon the United States the necessity
Df reshaplng some Of the old rules
are somewhat akin to those with
which the allies are now faced in
dealing with the trade OF their en-
amy Adjacent to Germany are yarf-
Dus neutral countries which affor1
her convenient opportunities for car
-ying on her trade with foreign
Her own territories are
covered by a network Of railways ana
waterways which enable her com
nerce to pass az conveniently
through ports In such neutral coun-
ries as though her own. A blockade
limited TO enemy ports would leave
open routes by which every kind of
ierman commerce could pass almost
IS easily as through the ports in her
jwn territory.
Rotterdam Is German Outlet.
Rotterdam Is, indeed. the nearest
,utlet for some Of the Industrial dis
riots Of Germany II seems. ac- {
.ordingly. that II Il be recognized Z