New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-16
Cannot Sacrifice Naval
Weapon to Conciliate
NeutralS.
AMERICANS HOPE
FOR MODIFICATION
Compromise with Packers Seen
as Move Toward All
Agreement.
AZ Cable ts ros Tribune

London, Jan. 10. Aithoukh Inv
Daily Mail" Is vigorously agitat'ns FOR
more stringent blockade, especially
against neutrals. The Tribune under
stands there is little likelihood that
any alteration will he effected. The
attitude Of the authorities is that food
must be kept out OF Germany sbso-
lutely. but while carrying out this 1t Is
the intention 20 inconvenience neutral
trade as little as possible.
There is no wish 10 blockade the
entire European coast. with the ioslea'
sequence Of declaring war on al the
neutral countries OF Europe. Because
Of this there is no possibility that the
present blockade will be handed over
70 the navy. as "Thc Westminster Ga
zette" unfortunately suggested yesier-
day
Such q course might easily lead TO
.-o,,oca.;ve action. while even if every
neutral vessel were taken 10 hirkwa'l'
on ner cent would probably afterWard
b. released. however strong the susp'-
cions of the British prize courts might
be as 10 the ultimate destination OF
the cargo.
Agreement with Neutrals Best.
The most authoritative view here IS
,hat agreements like the Netherlands
Overseas Trust and the Danish agree
rsnt are the only satisfactory or pos
sible means Of dealing with neutrais'
or,bouqh II is recognized that GER
lain amount OF smuggling is bound 70
occur. Just as in the case OF Mexico
So far there has been no time 70
Judge the ultimate success OF these
ARRANGEMENTS. but the authorities IN
sist that the figures of the past two
months should be the sole test. TN
tho other hand. THE Daily Mails
agitation is based on figures relating
70 The period even before the Order IN
Council Of March 10.
But with these reservations 1t Is 'ne
intention here 10 continue the blockade
as strlnrsrtly as actual circumstances
norn,it There - not the slightest pos
sibiity Of any weakening.
factor not generally realized IS
that Britain's allies are more inslsteh'
on the blockade than possibly the
British themselves, even II the latter
wished 10 relax which is untninkaDle.
In the face Of present public opinion
their allies would refuse 10 permit the
relaxation for single moment
Movement Toward Blockade.
Other Americans here. however, who
are i'm close touch with the machinery
Of the British orders IN council IN
consequence OF their acting as repre-
scntatives Of American shippers, pc
Ieve that an actual blockade is about
to be declared.
person who can speak authorize
lively and who has acted as repre-
sentative of American interests IN con-
nectlon with British prize court pro-
ceedings reviewed to-day the evolution
Of the orders in council. lie said:
The British government shows ar
Lnmistakable tendency now tc shif'
around TO the perslstently expressed
American contention that the interna
tional law which prevailed before 'h'
present war must ultimately govern
Great Britain's assertion OF her SCI
power. .t,
al is we'll known that. when tn
war began, the Admiralty urged upo'
the Foreign Office the necessity for tn
declaration of an actual blockade, bu
the latter believed that the suscepti
bilities Of neutrals could be better me
BY orders in council, and, after III
adoption Of these. the government be
Gan its interminable agreements will
neutrals.
United States Blocked Success.
These agreements might have sue
ceeded had il not been for the opposi
ton of the United States, which tool
The stand from the first that the or
ders in council were illegal and that
therefore even yelled or sub rosa rec
ognition OF them, in forms similar &
The Danish agreement and The Meth
erlands Overseas Trust. would be {
surrender Of American sovereignty un
der international law.
Even though not indorsing the az
titude OF the biggest OF the neutrals
the smaller neutral states began e
chafe under the agreements, which are
criticised "a being partial.
Furthermore, these agreements have
always been a direct negation Of Sil
Samuel Evans's famous dictum 70 the
effect that it is inconceivable that the
British government would issue any
orders in council which a prize court