The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-22
THE BLOCKADE BOOT ON THE
OTHER LEG

4 ahouc Wy 1CIhhduyy Ny prO-VtTnlhnb
in this country, and by uniformed
or sentimental people generally,
against the methods Of the blockade
imposed by the allies against the
central powers.
Especially has II been charged
that the allies had no right to inter-
fere with our commerce in articles
that the blockaded powers wanted to
buy. from us. Cotton has been the
pet grievance Of certain class Of
publicists.
Many months ago The Times
pointed out, first, that the allies are
conducting their blockade under
Americah-made rules dating to the
civil war; and, second, that no coun-
try on earth has more reason for
maintaining the most liberal con-
struction Of the superior powers
privileges in conducting a blockade,
because In almost any war that this
country might wage in the western
world the blockade Of our enemy
would be a chief weapon in our
hands.
Now comes the precise parallel to
the Conditions that the allies have
had to meet. It comes sooner than
expected, more impressively than we
might wish.
We are on the verge Of war with
Mexico. We may be in war before
another day passes. The blockade
has already been arranged and out
lined. Sufficient naval force has been
sent to both the east and west coasts
Of Mexico 10 seal the country. Mu-
nitions, foodstuffs, general supplies,
will be placed under the ban the in
slant war Is declared.
Shall our German sympathizers
protest that we are going to starve
the innocent, the noncombatants,
the women and children, Of Mexico?
That is what they have charged
against the allies blockade Of mid
die Europe. Or will they realize, as
the rest Of us have realized in con-
nection with the European situation
and as the Washington Government
insisted during the civil war, that
such means will bring the issue
sooner and therefore lessen the hor-
rors Of conflict? We rather opine
that an American blockade of Mex
leo will arouse vastly less outcry in
behalf Of oppressed humanity" than
British blockade Of Germany. But
it is the same thing.
Another parallel. Britain and
France have been compelled to close
the Scandinavian and Dutch gate
ways Of ingress to Germany. They
have imposed severe conditions, and
have inflicted undoubted hardships
on neutral commerce. But what are
we about to do in like situation?
| Already we are reminded that
Guatemala, on the southern border
of Mexico, is the one neutral through
which supplies may be introduced
into Mexico. We might build a
cement wall mile high around all
Mexico, save the Guatemalan front;
and yet, IL that frontier be left open,
Carranza could twiddle his fingers
at US in glee, and bring through the
Guatemalan ports and over, the Dor
der to Mexico, all the guns and am
munition and foodstuffs and what
not he might be able to buy all over
the world. It would be no blockade
at all with little Guatemala wide
, open; precisely as the allies block
. ade of Germany would be a derision
with Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and
Holland free to pipe in the war
necessaries Of a world.
So we are prepared already to
adopt the allies tactics: to impose
, conditions on Guatemala that will
, prevent it from destroying our
, blockade. We will treat Guatemala
/ now as we treated Mexico in the
civil war, as Britain has treated Hol-
land. It may be destructive of a
coveted Guatemalan opportunity for
) quick and voluminous profits; 1t may
D even prevent some tho roughly neu.
: trail Americans-in this case, how.
, ever, their neutrality would not be
/ easily differentiated from treason
r from selling supplies to our enemy
: That may shock people who have
been so indignant about the allies
: closing the doors to Germany; but
E we guess folks who are indignant
: about the employment of these
, weapons by the United States, wher
: the United States needs them, viii