The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-10

outward bound traffic from the neu-
trail country and all inward bound
traffic to the neutral country except
~contraband in transit to the enemy.
Such procedure need not conflict in
any respect with the rights of the bel
ligerent maintaining the blockade,
since the right would remain with the
blockading vessels to visit and search
all ships either entering or leaving
the neutral territory which they were
in fact but not Of right investing.
THE government of the United
States notes that in the order in
council his majesty's government give
as their reasons for entering upon a
course of action, which they are
aware is without precedent in mod
ern warfare, the necessity they con-
ceive themselves to have been placed
under to retaliate upon their enemies
for measures Of a similar nature
which the latter have announced as
their intention to adopt and which
they have to some extent adopted;
J,t the government Of the United
States, recalling the principles upon
which his majesty's government have
hitherto been scruptlous to act, in
terprets this as merely a reason for
certain activities on the part of his
majesty's naval forces and not as an
excuse for or prelude to any unlawful
action. If the course pursued by the
present enemies Of Great Britain
should prove in fact tainted by illegal
ity and disregard by enlightened ma
tons, it can not be supposed and
this government does not for a mo-
eminent would wish the same faint
to attach to their own actions, or
would cite. such illegal acts as in any
sense or degree a justification for
similar practices on their part in so
far as they affect neutral rights
ut is thus that the governments of
the United Sttaes i%nterprets the lang
uage Of the note Of his majesty's
principal secretary Of State for for
eign affairs which accompanies the
copy Of the order in council which
was handed to the ambassador of the
United States government in Lon
don and by him transmitted to Wash
ington.
This government notes with gratif-
ton that wide discretion is afford
ed to the prize court in dealing with
the trade of neutrals in such manner
as may in the circumstances be deem
ed gust and that full provision is
made to facilitate claims by persons
interested in any goods placed in the
custody of the marshal of the prize
court under the order;' and the eff
feet Of the order in council is to con-
fer certain powers upon the execu-
tive officers of his majesty's govern
ment;' and tina the extent to which
the powers will be actually exercised
and the degree of severity with which
; the measures of blockade authorized
will be put into operation are mat
tiers which were discussed in an ad-
m~inistrative order issued by the gov
eminent n the decisions Of the au-
thorities especially charged with the
duty Of dealing with individual ships
and cargoes according to the merits OF
each case. This government notes fur
Their with equal satisfaction the dec
laration of the British government
that the instructions to be issued by
his majesty's government to the fleet
and to the customs officials ard ex-
ecutiveS concerned will impress upon
them the duty of acting with the ut
most dispatch consistent with the 3D.
ject in view n of showing in every
case such consideration for neutrals
as may be compatible with that OBJ
ject, which is, succinctly stated, to
establish a blockade to prevent YES
sells from carrying goods for or COM
ing from Germany
I'm view of these assurances
formally given to this government, it
is confidently expected that the ex-
%tensive powers conferred by the or
der in council on the executive Off
GERS Of the crown will be restricted by
orders issued by the government di-
recting the exercise of their discre-
%tionary powers in such a as
to modify in practical application
those provisions of the order in coun-
Gil which, if strictly enforced, would
violate neutral rights and interrupt
legitimate trade. Relying on the
faithful performance of these volun-
tary assurances by his majesty's gov
eminent the United States takes it