The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-01-28
THE ENGLISH

Under the above caption the Kansas City Journal. of January 81,
contained the editorial that follows which is unquestionably a clear
and historical statement of facts and precedents in the matter of the
blockade now being prosecuted by Great Britain against Germany.
The Kansas City Journal is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican news
paper but, from its viewpoit, is fair and is ably edited. 1t is at least
charitable to assume that the few Democratic Senators in Congress-
who have been wanting the President to shake his fist in England,s
face, are ignorant of anything outside of their immediate surround
ings that has taken place even a few years in the past; this must be
true, otherwise they have manifested a spirit that would draw this
country into the great European war and are willing to 90 any length
to fool their constituents and make political capital for themselves
The Journal states the cas-: clearly and incidentally makes an able
defense of the course pursued by President Wilson. The Presi-
dent knows all the inside facts and Senators would do we'll to keep
their noses out of affairs that should be managed by the Executive
and accredited diplomats. Our Kansas City contemporary says:
That crucial diplomatic controversies will be precipitated If
n Enghsh government persists in its determination to establish a
there ae evidences OF very vigorous opposition to be invoked bv
this country and by the other neurals correspondingly affected.
may, such IS is contemplated by England and is outlined in negotia.
tons heretofore carried on, involves far more than the Teutonic
"lndissociably connected with it is the mischievous doctrine of
more to establish as a principle of international law than PERHAPS
any other country. ibis doctrine, which was put into effect on nu.
plague America in the event that England points to the clearly de.
. pre6le aa' is "a huge ee o me e saue te ye ' seyt ysir 5o ag0 "a as a precedent Gee LIT The
defiance ashs,c OF IT the worid nor by INDUCING in that pleasing pasdme of
Early in the negotiations with England over the interference
WIN III nj II, c o";nHy TRACE with neutrals Great Britain justified its
lea with the Scandinavian neutrals, as self-evidently proving that
the i0m%Gd 1Ms s0 who's importation BY these aeutrals FtrebIed and
10, Germany. IT the problem involved merely the s,ationing of
P"NN' VI "o''"iPo al liz CutI &c Germanh arbOrS and keeDinU |
commerce from having any dealings with Germany, it would be a
sAmpLe one. II neutrals were allowed to import all the goods for
which they could pay, leaving it to be settled as between them and
England whether the goods could be got pas. the English Gordon. it
would be even simpler, so far as this country is concerned.
but ever there arise those cases wherein the United States
government seized ships in the Civil war bound ostensiblv for West
Indian ports, and held them on the ground that the carooes were
ultimately destined for the Confederacy. This policy was given
the ne . n sanction of the highest judicial tribunal in the land.
amit the ,v SGnt1a er1 was deprived of the commodities through a
Britain will! take full advantage of these instances if the occasion arises
when the interference with American commerce brought about the
hrst protests in the present war, this country took the ground that
the so-cailed orders in council were not in accordance with inter.
W and that the proper procedure was a blockade. one
whlch % % effective had to be of sufficient strength to prohibit
nuns" n communication with the blockaded country.
1T appears that this advice is now to be followed. unless E,o
land reaches the conclusion that the r-taliatory measures which q" ags
easily WITHIN the power OF this country and the. hostility of other,
make the game too expensive to try. For instance, an en-
oaarso on munitions to the Allies is all ready strongly urged bv MANY
our people, and this would have a very vital effect on the Cn~ny
Versy. AS a matter OF international morals, it would be Infinitely
tor all concerned if a policy of starvation we're universaIiv
, ,ondn ana made impossible. But Americans of this day will
n,aroIy dispute the contention that it was mo 'nobler' TO starve the
Contederates than for England to starve the German
a AM hnu Gn.ofen. o r tor any nation to kill innocent non-com.
'atants by blowing up the ships m which they travel"