Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-10
Of the first armed neutrality. when
those rights began to be violated.
lnsistcd ON Neutrals' RIRhts.I


those rights began to be violated.
Insisted on Neutrala' flights.
The armed ncutrals declared for tho
rights of neutral merchant vessels OH
! tho high seas. and insisted that a
blockade to be legal must BIO effective
These principles they were prepared to
enforce by the force OF their naval
power. and they continued In this
stand until the peace OF Versailles put
an end to the war between England
France. Spain and the United States.
These neutral states did not actually
go TO war, but they defended their
commerce with their armed forces.
This was big step toward establish
ing the rights of neutrals, and the
attitude of the United States was
largely responsible for it.
second league of armed neutrality
was formed twenty years later by the
same northern powers. this time in
GLIDING Prussia In the interval an
other armed neutrality obtained for Il
time between Denmark and Sweden.
These two powers in 1894 formed an
alliance for the purpose OF protecting
their commerce against bcliigerents by
armed force, without actually pro-
ceeding to war The unified naval
squadrons of Denmark and Sweden
patrolled the North Sea to protect their
merchantmen against aggression, and
TINS they did with considerable sue
cess. Neither nation found it ncces-
sary to declare war.
The second great league OF armed
ncutrals grew out of the question OF
the immunity OF neutral merchantmen
under the convoy Of war vessels OF
their own nation. This question Is one
that may well have an important bear
ing on the present situation. When
the German submarine decree OF Feb
ruary was first proclaimed. many
Americans held that Il good way To
m
american merchantmen under convoy
OF American warships. and 1t Is
measure which may be resorted to In
the future.
IL is an accepted principle OF inter-
national law to-day. confirmed by num-
berless treaties. that hclliGerent ves-
sells have no right TO stop and search
neutral merchantmen when such MGR
chantmcn are under convoy OF war
vessels Of their own nation. The bell
iiSerent has Il right TO stop and ques-
ton the commanding naval officer OF
the convoy. and the statement OF such
an officer as To the nature and desti
nation of the merchant ships under his
protection Is supposed to he accepted
a. final. The beliiserent has fur
thcr recourse. The United States stood
out for this principle before any other
great nation. holding that the word
If honor Of the raLking naval officer
WAS ull-Sufilcient.
In 1892 when England and France
were At war. feet OF Danish mer-
chantmen under convoy of a Danish
friGate was halted by English war YES
sells. The Dane refused to allow any
Investigation OF tho vessels. holding.
with the United States, that the word
of the officer Was sufficient. This re-
fus;il WAS followed by lighting between
the Danish and English vessels: and
the same thing happened shortly ar
IL ~ d gt,t, !,
trails of Europe were disturbed by vio-
lation OF what they had come TO as
their rights and a League OF Armed
Seutrals was formed between Russia.
Prussia. Sweden and Denmark. 10 up
hold by force of arms their right to
go about their peaceful business. \
year later England reconsidcrcd her
position. and agreed to tho principle
OF exemption Of neutral vessels under
neutral convoy.
There is thus ample precedent for tho
establishment OF an armed neutrality
by neutral nation in war time. II Is
now recognized principle OF Inter
national law that a nation may use
her warlikc forces In order to assure
her commerce going unmolcs,cd about
It's peaceful pursuits. The chief armed
hcutralitics of the past have been main
taincd by leagues of nations rather
than individual nations. but the prin-
ciplc is the same.
The armed ncutralitics of tho past
have been formed To protect neutral
shipping against illegal visit and
search. against what the ncutrals con-
sidcrcd illegal coniiscation OF property
No armed neutrality has ever been
formed TO protect neutral commerce on
the high seas against summary de-
struciion without warning. because
such policy has never been put into
operation by any nation before.