The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-02
ENGLAND
BY Ed /. Keen, United Press STAR
Correspondent1

T. Nv . y
LONDON, March 2.-The British
public today registered hearty approv-
|al OF the allies new plan to starve
out Germany in retaliation for sub
marine attacks. The London press
OF an embargo, its enthusiastic q
dorsement. Everywhere II was
dent that Premier Asquith str a
popular chord in his speech = the
house Of commons yesterday.
Following tho lead Of the prime min
ister himself, the London papers ex-
pressed regret that tho United States
and other neutraIs should suffer. But
without exception, they backed up the
premier in his declaration that the Al
lies would not be sWayed from their
course by the protest Of any neutral,
no matter in what terms 1t is couched.
In effect, they advised neutraIs to
stand aside and bear inconveniences
while the allies deal death stroke.
But despite the equally strong posi-
tion taken by the British press, an un-
dor current OF feeling today carried
the opinion that an embargo decree
against Germany never may be put
into effect. Even In government cir
cies today many persons were found
who were unable to see how the gov
ernment could ever enforce such a
wide sweeping and unprecedented a
policy In the face Of the combined
protests Of the strongest neutral coun.
tries, including the United States.
This opinion was not shared by the
majority. But It was pointed out tina.
the allies have not yet declared the
BLOCKADE" of Germany's coast, Pre-.
mier Asquith carefully avoided teing
the government to hard and fast
policy. "The British and French
governments will therefore hold them
selves free to detain vessels bound to
ior from Germany was the prime
minister's phrasing.
This phrase may be the allies loop
hole. II a bombardment Of protests
from neutrals forces an abandonment
Of the embargo Idea, England and
France will have a graceful retreat.
They can point out that they merely
reserved the right TO act If compelled,
but never actually decided to put the
program into force. They can explain
that Asquith's public declaration was
made for the purpose Of bringing Ger.
uauy ~ NSV t0OU0S0 anu ebOVSubS 8ttSI
TO abandon "inhuman warfare"
The Daily Mall, justifying the gov.
ernrnent's proposed course, said to.
day: "The allies will, In fact, observe
all tho rules laid down by the United
States courts in the blockade Of the
southern coast during the civil war.
They will take every possible step to
avoid wanton injury to neutrals. But
they will refuse to be bound by a
net work Of fegal subtleties for which
Germany has shown not the slightest
regard"
Neutral countries, will, Of course,
still complaint" said the Morning
Post. "Neutrals have always conn
planned In war since the beginning Of
time, but no neutral has ever succeed
ed In forcing the sea power OF Eng
land to relax It's grip"
Welcoming the blockade, the Globe
said editoriaIIy today: every effort
will be made TO expose neutrais to the
least possible Inconvenience and dam
ger, but We shall do the Work thor
oughIy. II neutraIs suffer In any man.
ner, let them remember that the GER
mans chose to wage this kind Of a
conflict and Il Is to Berlin, not to Lon
don, that their protests should be ad-
dressed"
"lf hardships are caused neutrals
we shall regret IT," said the Pail Mall
Gazette, 'but we ask them to realize
that their own paramount interests,