The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-10-23
THE BLOCKADE OF
BOLSHEVIK RUSSIA
THE SUPREME COUNCIL INVITES
OTHER COUNTRIES TO JOIN
Foretaste of the Working of the
League of Nations Plan

In addition to Germany, the note
OF the Supreme Council also invited
the following countries to join in the
blockade of Russia: Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Holland, Finland, Spain,
Switzerland, Mexico, Chilli, Argen-
tine, Columbia, and Venezuela. The
proposed blockade measures are as
follows:
First-Refusal of permission to
sail to every ship bound for Russian
Soviet ports and the closing of all
ports to ships from Bolshevik ports.
Second-Similar regulations to be
adopted with regard to all goods des-
tined for Russia by any other route.
Third-Passports to be refused to
all persons to or from Bolshevist
Russia. Isolated exceptions may be
made by agreement of the allied and
associated powers. Fourth-Meas-
ures will be taken to hinder the
banks from granting credit to COM
mercial undertakings in Bolshevist
Russia. Fifth-Every Government
will refuse it's nationals any facili-
ties of intercourse with Bolshevist
Russia, whether by post or wireless
telegraphy.
The following instructions have
been issued by Marshal Foch in con-
nection with the Russian blockade
Inform the German Government
that the British and French men OF
war in the Gulf of Finland will con-
tinue to blockade Bolshevist ports
and detain from the moment they
come in sight ships bound for Boil
shevist ports"
In explanation of the reasons which
have occasioned this blockade the
preamble of the Supreme Councils
note regarding the matter states that
the Bolsheviki movement is directed
against all Governments and consti-
tutes a serious danger to the natl
onal security of all powers. 1t also
states that any increase in the capac-
ity of the Rolsheyiki for resistance
increases this danger, and that con-
sequently it is desirable that all
nations unite in resisting the Boil
shevist Government.
In thus calling on Germany and
the other countries above enumera-
ted to cooperate in the blockade of
Russia, 1T is further declared that
the allied and associated govern
ments have refused permission to
their subjects to resume commercial
relations with Bolshevist Russia.
While the provisions of the Coven-
ant of the League of Nations have not
as yet been acquiesced in by the
United States, and, while the League
has not as yet been formally organi-
zed, the action which is being taken
in connection with the blockade of
Russia seems to be directly in line
with the plan provided for by Article
XIV of the League Covenant which
fixed one of the penalties to be infic-
ted upon any member of the League
resorting to war ''in disregard of its
covenants under Articles XII, XIII,
or XIV" which member, the article
continues" shall ipso facto be deem
ed to have committed an act of war
against all other members of the
league, which hereby undertakes inn
mediately to subject it to the sever
ance of all trade or financial rela-
tions, the prohibition of all inter-
course between their nationals and
the nationals of the covenant-break-
ing state and the prevention of all
financial, commercial or personal in
tercourse between the nationals of
the COMMUNICATING state and the |
nationals of any other state, whether
a member of the league or not"
Thus this blockade of Russia af- |
fords us a foretaste, as ii were. of |
what, under the League of Nation |
ptan, is likely to happ N whenever |
any nation, whs ther mem Der of the |
league or not (Article &FII extends |
this plan to ncn-memners as well rs
members of the LeagJe) undertakes |
to go to war without authority from |
the League. Surely a penalty so |
grave, even aside from the further
danger from the armies and navies
of the League members, will cause
all nations to take serious thought |
hereafter before they decide to go to
war.