The Detroit times., 1917-03-09
Anyhow, Two Illegal
Rlockades Would Not
Make a Legal Blockade

IQI1os COIupafcu W Jul Ae@SN |iAi~'~' 49,
from Berlin bearing on submarine opera
lions, Is, nevertheless, brief filed by
Vienna In behalf Of Germany.
Austria processes. as German people
renerally ard some Americans profess an
inability to understand why President
Wilson does not object just as strenuous
~ TO the British blockade Of Germany as
he has objected to Germany's submarine
area
The idea is, in the first place that l.
Il were the case that Great Britain
blockade were ILLEGAL, which It is not
the fact would not make the German
submarine area LEGAL.
Cermany's presumptuousness IN telling
the neutral world where it may send Its
ships and where it may not send It's
ships. In the face Of established and &C
cspted law defining their right 10 sail
their ships where Germany says they
must not, In pain Of having them sunk
without warning. Is reprehensible, and
Tie condemnation that has been brought
avn upon the German government by
~ entire neutral world is more than
justtnsd-
President Wilson was everlastlngiy
hit In severing diplomatic relations
VII nation whose heads served notice
>haf Il was about to become an outlaw
10 understand the administration po-
elfjua Il 10 first necessary to keep clearly
r. Mind the fact that this government
- never objected to the principle Of
h1oclnds In itself.
No one In authority in the United
states questions for one moment the
right Of Germany to blockade England,
hut the proclamation Of blockade In
wolves certain obligations on the part
g the blockading power.
TIE blockading power must exercise
- xight of visit and search.
It must examine the cargo carried by
- vessels stopped In the blockade zone,
- r adjudsed contraband by the naval
oufAsEitiss In charge Of the blockade, the
- mnst Be taken into port and the
- pasDsd upon by prize court
Ducws firing upon blockade runner
80 ~ a civilized nations provides that
- bIockading warship must first fire
- across the bow of the merchantmen
- : signal to stop.
UnIsss the vessel resists or attempts
D1GAt every provision must be made for
- safety of her crew.
n he ship attempts to escape, those
= hoard her forfeit their right to pro-
>oe11cu. q has been uniformly held by
- United States government in cases
vhsrs Americans have been killed on
hnord ships attempting to escape from
German Submarines which had first sig
nn1lod thsm TO stop.
EnSlsrd has seized American ships
81 taken them TO port for adjudica-
tlpn by prize courts. Many Of their car
80 have been seized and condemned
altw due process Of law, the British
euvsrnmsnt In most cases paying fun
value for the cargo seized.
Cermany has boarded American ships
q the high seas and sunk them with
sut adjudication, on the spot, leaving the
srsw to shift for themselves In small
boats.
England has seized American mails,
and after examination has allowed to
pass such matter as proved TO be limo
cent.
Germany has torpedoed the Laconia,
carrying 5000 sacks Of American mail
which was, of course, entirely de-
stroyed.
Germany, or her ally, Austria, has
dropped bombs on the deck Of a peace
full ship without warning
England has done nothing Of the sort.
Most important Of all. Germany has
repeatedly fired upon passenger ships
without warning, killing and injuring
Americans on board
England has not done this
All of the blockade measures which
England has enforced against the United
States, including the famous blacklist"
were enforced against England by the
United States during the blockade Of the
g. a. e