Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-04
REJECTS CONVENTIONS
Continued from Page y

such an application of the principles
of blockade the only means Of making
1t effective. The government of the
United States. indeed, intimates it's
readiness to take into account the
great changes which have occurred in
the conditions and means of naval
warfare since the rules hitherto gov
erning legal blockade were formu-
lated and recognized that the form OF
close blockade with its Gordon of ships
in the immediate offing Of the block
AIDED ports is no longer practicable in
the face of an enemy possessing the
means and opportunity to make an
effffective defence by the use of sub
marines, mines and aircraft. The only
question, then. which can arise in re-
gard to the measures resorted to for
the purpose of carrying out block
ade upon these extended lines is,
whether, to use Your Excellency's
words, they conform to the spirit and
principles of the essence of the war
and we shall be content to apply this
test to the action which we have taken
insofar as it has necessitated inter-
ference with neutral commerce"
Sir Edward Grey, then refers to the
American civil war blockade OF three
thousand miles Of coast with a small
number of vessels, and recalls how the
United States finally took recourse to
blockading neighboring neutral terri
tory, which afforded convenient CEN
tiers from which contraband could be
introduced into Confederate. territory
could be facilitated.
Your excellency win no doubt re-
member" wrote Sir Edward, how In
order to meet this new difficulty, the
old principles relating to contraband
and blockade were developed and the
doctrine Of continuous voyage was ap-
piled and enforced, under which goods
destined for the enemy territory were
intercepted before they reached the
neutral ports from which they were
to be re-exported.
U. S. Difficulties
1.-THE difficulties which imposed up
on the United States the necessity OF
reshaping some of the old rules are
somewhat akin to those with which
the allies are now faced in dealing
with the trade Of their enemy. Ad-
jacent to Germany are various neu-
trail countries which afford her con-
venient opportunity for carrying on
her trade with foreign countries. Her
own territories are covered by net
work Of railways and waterways,
which enable her commerce to pass
as conveniently through ports in such
neutral countries, as through her own.
"A blockade limited to enemy ports
would leave open routes by which ev-
evry kind Of German commerce could
pass almost as easily as through the
ports of her own territory.
Rotterdam a Near Outlet
Rotterdam is indeed the nearest
outlet for some Of the industrial dis
tricts Of Germany-***"
ut seems accordingly that If it be
recognized that blockade is in GER
tain cases the appropriate method OF
intercepting the trade Of an enemy
country, and if the blockade. can only
become effective by extending 1t to
enemy commerce passing through neu-
trail ports, such an extension is de-
fensible and in accordance with prin-
ciples which have met with general ac-
ceptance."t
Case Of springbok
The note then refers to the case OF
the British ship Springboi, siezed by
United States cruisers during the CIV
II war while bound for the British
West Indies. because her cargo, 1t was
discharged. was to be trans-shipped to
the Confederate states. The supreme
.eDEt q the United States s2neteansa
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