New Britain herald., 1917-02-14
Norway, Sweden and Denmark File Stiff Protest Against
 Blockade of Neutral Ships
JOINT NOTE DISPATCHED
 TO BERLIN AND VIENNA
Recall Previous Protests and Insist Present Naval Measures Are More Objectionable Because of Their Ex- 
 tent and Gravity-CIaim Neutral Ship, Not Bound For BelIgerent Port, Is Immune.

< London, Feb. 14.-Reuter's -Copen- { hagen correspondents report that Nor way, Sweden and Denmark have hand ' ed to the German ministers identical notes protesting against the naval { m ensures taken by Germany and Aus tria-Hungary and making all reserva- 2 tions regarding the loss of life and the material damage resulting.
 The following communication has been issued:
 "On Tuesday, the 18th inst, the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish gov ernments handed to the German min isters in their respective capitals notes identical in tenor, protesting against the barring of certain sea zones an- , nounced by Germany and Austria. The note begins by recalling the fact that during the war the governments have several times found themselves obliged to formulate formal protests against serious infringements Of the rights of neutrals involved by measures of var ious belligerent powers. It then en- phasizes the facts that the govern ments, whose action on these various occasions were as always inspired by the spirit of the most perfect loyal inn partiality, confined themelves to de- lending the imprescriptable rights of neutrals. After pointing out that the govern ments have on previous occasion pro- tested against measures of belligerents tending to restrict the free use, of the seas by Eeutrals the note proceeds to the governments on this oc- casion are all the more bound to main- tain, in taking the same point of view, that the obstacles placed in the way of xyi {f1v, siderable in both extent and gravity.
 Blockade Illegal.
 "The note draws attention to the fact that the only rules of interna- tional law which might be invoked in support of measures having as their ,z object the prevention of all commerce and all navigation with the enemy are those relating to naval blockade. The note affirms that no belligerent as the right to prohibit peaceful navigation through zones the limits of which are very distant from many coasts which are considered 'blockaded cnly in legitimate manner.
 Tho governments recall the univer sally recognized law on navigable blockade namely. that a neutral shir cannot be captured if it is not main taining any attempt to violate the blockade and that in the event of } ship being captured it must be brought before prize court in con. /. formity with the general regulations
 ''The governments declare theil anxiety ir regard to the measures which have been announced is az gravated further by the fact that the zones declared dangerous will, it ap pears, be watched exclusively by sub marines, whose activity involves grea danger for neutral subjects, as ha been shown by experience on variou, occasions in the course of the war
 Finally, the note points out tha the measures announced will be al the more contrary to the principles of international law. if as the Ger man communications of the impera governments seem to indicate the, are to be applied without distinction to all ships entering the zones de scribed ana to these not bound fo enemy ports but on the way from on, neutral port to another.
 "On the ground of the consider
 (Continued on Eleventh Paee9