Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-03
May Still Be No State of War.

After the breaking of diplomatic re-
lations comes the possibility of other
measures termed '.non-amicable modes
of redress" which also are measures
short of war" These modes Of redress
may include reprisals, retaliations. non
intercourse and display of force; and
still there may be no state of war.
There are precedents of various sort
and range for such action.
In 1870 Congress authorized PresI-
deut Grant to suspend transit OF goods
to Canada in bond as an extreme meas
ure to prohibit Canadian vessels in
American waters because of the atti-
tude of the Canadian government
toward American fishermen. An en-
barge on ships or exports IS legitimate.
Congress imposed such embargoes, in
on trade with both England and
France AS rule those were pacihc
embargoes and prevented American
ships from carrying goods to the en-
bargoed countries. Great Britain in
1903. however, laid a hostile embargo
on Dutch vessels in British ports.
Non-intercourse acts can be passed
by Congress to stop commerce between
the United States and Germany, but as
the war already has put the trade at
low ebb the effect Will pc neghginle.
Such acts were passed against Great
Britain and France between 1898 and
1909
displays of force have been frequent
" used by the United States and Euro
mean powers to impress the earnestness
of their position Writers on interna-
-tional law class the allied march to the
relief of the legations at Picking as
display of force short OF war.
When all the measures short OF war
have been exhausted, or either nation
decides to dispense with them. comes
the eyentuality-war itself.
War May Precede Declaration.
More than 100 times since 1900. war
has begun before it was formally de-
cla-ed. Only twelve times in the PIG
years has war actually been declared
before hostilities began. The latest no
table instance was the opening action of
the Russo-Japanese war, when Admiral
Togo struck a Russian fleet. Russia
complained Of a surprise attack, but
Japan pointed out she had notified Rus
STA she was breaking off diplomatic re-
lations and reserved the right to take
such Independent action as might De
deemed best.
The Hague convention Of 1907 took
notice of the situation and adopted an
article making 1t mandatory for ma
ton to declare war before beginning
hostilities. Germany and the United
and also agreed that neutral powers
must be notified of the state Of war
without delay.
1t provided, however. that there might
be an ultimatum with conditional dec
laration of war. The Hague conven-
lions and the fabric of international
law generally have been so torn during
the present war, however. that no dip
lomatist. ventures to say how far any
nation may be expected to regard
itself as bound by the provisions. 1t
might be said that almost anything is
within range of possibilities. In general
practice, a declaration of war has come
to be regarded more as call to arms
than as a notification to a prospective
enemy.
with the beginning of war the status
of citizens. treaties, consuls, mails,
change which varies in different de-
grees from that prevailing under q
break of diplomatic relations.