Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-21
Subsea Blockade
 Not Effective
CLAIM MADE BY LORD ROBERT
 CECIL
HAVING LITTLE EFFECT
Declares That the Practice of NeutraIs in Putting Into United Kingdom Ports is Not Accompanied With se- rious Danger.

London, Feb. 20, S.25 D. m.-''The Western Atlantic. the North Sea and the Mediterranean are not outlaw wa ters. Murder may be committed on them, but the attempt to hold up all sea traffic there has not succeeded. It is the task of the western powers and their allies to vindicate once again the freedom of the seaS.'
 This was the reply of Lord Robert Cecil, minister of blockade. to the question of The Associated Press as to whether he could say anything with regard to the effects of the new sub
 Lord Robert Cecil then entered into details, saying:
 Little Effect on Entry of Supplies.
 50 far. it has had very little ef- feet on the entry Of supplies to this country, but it has interfered to some extent with trade between neutral na tions- For instance. as you know, most of the vessels trading from Scandinavia and Holland to and from America put into the United Kingdom by agreement in order to avoid the trouble and danger of visit and search sels are reluctant to continue this practice, foolishly. we think, since the danger of putting into United King dom port is not serious and the prac- tice is very convenient for all par ties.
 "The German piracy decree is not indeed, bluff: it is far too murderous for that. But it's terror lies not in anything like wholesale destruction, the actual number of ships sunk bear ing very small proportion to those getting through unScathed, but in it's very uncertainty, it's cratic strokes.
 To Change Port of Examinations.
 However, we are very anxious to meet the wishes of neutrals in this. as in all other matters, even when we do
 kr-. accordingly are arranging in certain cases, where we are satisfied the ves- seI concerned is not trading in the in tersts of our enemies, that they shall be examined at some other British port. such as Halifax.
 This course does not mean the of the right of visit and search, which obviously it would be impossible for us to abandon All it means is that we substitute one form of exercising that right for another, and, in order to make our action quite clear. we are declaring at the same time that vessels rying to run the blockade with goods to or from Ger many. directly or indirectly, will ex- pose themselves to condemnation in 3 prize court. We are adding that if they fail voluntarily to enter a British port for examination they cannot com plain if their conduct exposes them to suspicion. and, indeed. constitutes a prinna facie case that they are en- gagged in enemy trade.
 ''This is the meaning of our new It will not. I hope and believe, make any practical difference in the present system, which will pro- ceed exactly in the same way it has proceeded hitherto. except that certain ships will be examinp1 at Halifax in- stead of at Kirkwall.
 No Obstacle to Belgian Relief.
 'Tn regard to Belgian relief ships we will not place the slightest obstacle n the way of any agreement whereby hey. may be able to reach Rotterdam, even should such an arrangement mean a. different route from the one ,hev pursue through the danger zone"
 The proclamation referred to by the of blockade is a new order n n-councn which will be issued tomor- 'ow covering the attitude of the Brit sh government toIards neutral ships.