The Washington times., 1915-03-18
British Blockade to Be
Milder ThanCipil War
BY JUDSON c. WELLIVER.

A new method of blockading q bel
llgerent power Is announced by the Brit
ish government. in the official comnu-
nications outlining the method of en-
forcing the blockade of Germany.
1t is a much less drastic form of block
ade than was employed by the United
States during the civil war. and 1t in
PRODUCES new elements of concession in
favor OF neutral commerce.
Great Britain announces that it is not
proposed to confiscate ships and car
goes destined to Germany. which may
be taken on the high seas. That was the
method of the Washington Government
In civil war times. Instead Britain
proposes merely to intern ship and
cargo and hold them till the end of the
war.
There are exceptions to this rule. The
British government may condemn and
take over the cargo thus held; but II
IT does SO 1t agrees to pay for lt-after
the war. Likewise. the government may
sell the cargo. and turn the money INTO
the prize court, to be held there till
after the war.
But it is promised that confiscation
will not be the rule. This ameliorates
the rigors of blockade and makes them
more mild than ever since the interna-
tional law of blockade was developed.
Whether the British government can
make a blockade effective with such
mild terms is a subject of some debate.
that he will lose his ship and cargo il
he falls: he will merely have ship and
cargo interned for an indefinite period.
1t Is regarded as distinguished con-
cession to the rights and privileges of
neutral commerce; an effort to extend
the widest possible benefits to world
business. Precisely how the United
states can protest against this regula-
ton Is not very apparent, for the United
States enforced against Great Britain
the civil war, and most of the worlds s
low of blockade. down to the last few
months. was based on the precedents Of
our civil war.
1t is known that the British meas
ures have been taken with special ref
erence to the effect they will have on
the United states. First. this country
Is the most important and powerful
the, practice of the blockade farther
during the civil war than the British
government now seems determined to
carry 1t: Therefore. 1t is not at all APP
parent how this Government can pro-
test very effectively.
Holland. it is reported. will protest
against the British orders; but its ca Sc
will be different from that OF the
limited States. Holland is the neptral
quantities of goods, both for and from
Germany. 1t is typical of other neu-
trails in like posture-Denmark, Norway.
Sweden.
The British orders declare that any
merchant vessel carrying goods des-
tined for Germany, even though she
be sailing from one neutral port to
another neutral port. may be taken by
Il British warship and required to dis
allies port. To give a specific illus
| tration. this means that an American
vessel, sailing under the American fla z,
to Rotterdam, carrying goods destined
to Germany, will be held up and com
PEELED to discharge these goods in a
| port of Great Britain or France. They
shall be placed in the custody of the
marshal OF the prize court; and any
which are not contraband will be either
! bought by the British government or
else returned to the owner.
1t will be observed that this does not
| involve the confiscation of GOODS which
are not contraband; 1t insures that
! they will be either paid for or returned
| allowed to proceed to Germany The
very first purpose OF the orders is to
shut off Germany from all commercial
| Intercourse with the world. IN effect
| 1t Is laid down that goods destined to
Germany will be seized and paid Spr by
the allies: goods from Germany. though
! carried by vessel which took them
on at neutral port-say. a Dutch
port, for example-will likewise be
taken into an allies port and required
to discharge these goods. These, again
If not reauisitioned for the use OF
the government. will be sold under
order of the prize court. From thiS
point on the order gives, as 10 this
class of goods, a wide discretion: fol
| the proceeds of the sale of such goods
are to be paid into the prize court. tc
he dealt with as the court may deem
Just: but the proceeds will not be paio
| to the owner of the goods till after
| peace is effected, barring some excep
tlonal cases.
Just how these orders will operate may
| be illustrated from a study Of the ex.
perience OF our civil war blockade. In
that case the North: with command
| to shut off the South from Commerce
with the outside world: precisely as
Britain now seeks to shut off Germany
| The South wanted to buy supplies