The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-10

, tlonaI law.
by the illegal prevention Of ex-
ports from the central powers Great t
Britain aimed at paralyzing the count
less factories and works which the in
dustrial and highly developed peoples
of central Europe had created and w
Forcing workmen to be idle, to incite
them to rebellion.
When Austria -Hungary's soutberr
neighbor joined the enemies Of the
central powers hisfrst act was to d.
clare as blockaded all coasts OF the
enemy, following the course and OK
ample OF his allies in ignoring all the
legal rights in the creation of which
Italy had taken an active part a short
time before. Austria Hungary did not
neglect to inform neutral powers ot
once that the blockade was not legal
For more than two years the CEN
tral powers hesitated. Only then and
after long and careful consideration
of pros and cons did they begin to
return like for like and attacked the
enemy on the sea. AS the only ones
or the belligerents who had done
everything to secure the existing
treaties which were to guarantee to
neutrals the freedom OF the seas they
ieit with panied hearts the law of
the hour which commanded them TO
violate this freedom. But they took
this step to fulfill the paramount duty
toward their peoples and from the
conviction that it would help the
principle of the freedom of the seas 70
be victorious.
The proclamation which they is
sued last January are apparently
directed only against the rights Of
neutrals. In reality they serve to-
ward the restoration of these rights
which their enemies have incessantly
violated and which, if they were VIC
tors, they would destroy forever
Thus the submarines which are
cruising around the English coast
announce to peoples who need the
sea-and what people does not want
coasts THAT the day Is not far OF
when the flags of all states, in the
glory of their newly won freedom, CA
freely fly over the seas.
I'VE cherish the hope that this ar-
nounccmont will find an echo every
where where neutral peoples live and
that it will especially be understood
by the great people of the United
States whose most illustrious repre-
sentative has during the war de-
| Tended with flaming words the free
dom OF the seas as the highway OF
all nations.
''If the people and government OF
the United States keep in mind that
the blockade proclaimed by Great
Britain is not only meant to wear
down the central, powers by starva-
ton. but aims at subiecting the seas
to her rule in order to esta blish in
this manner her tyranny over all ma
tions, while on the 9th hand the
blockade Of England and her allies
only serves to make these powers ir-
cline towards peace with honor and a
guarantee to all nations Of the free
dom of sea traffic and sea commerce
and thereby q secured existence, then
the questions of which of the two
parties has the right on its side is
already decided. Though the central
powers have nc desire in this war to
beg FOR allies they yet believe that
; they will be entitled to look To neu-
: trails to appreciate their efforts in the
interest of all the principles of the
, international law and equal rights Of
I nations.
I'm replying now to the question
put in the American note OF Fcbruary
Is the Austro-Hungarian government
: firstly remarks that in the exchange
or notes referring to the cases Of thl
''"'"' "iiu the IClSa II restricted
7 itself to defining it's attitude to con
crete questions which individually
l arose without laying down its funda-
g mental legal conception.
"But in its note of October 10, 1918
e referring to the Ancona case. it re.
D served to itself the right TO bring "a
Z for diScugSi,n ot n lot, 1o.o .,;u,,,,t,
= international questions which ari. ,
In connection with submarine war
c fare. If 1t now refers to this rcscrva.
ton and now briefly discusses the
u question OF the sinking Of enemy YES
T. sells, to which that note refers, it I.
: guided by the desire to show tn,