That the, protests of various neutrals against the Allied decision to apply the principles of blockade against German exports, even if carried in neutral vessels, should have created some surprise is not astonishing, though it must be remembered that the same process was adopted in the last war, causing no small amount of friction, but nevertheless being enforced with considerable success. The blockade of Germany is justified by the one main test which is always applied in these matters. If it is effective it is a perfectly proper and legal method of prosecute ing war. There is no question whatever that the Allied blockade is effective, for the German uproar at its application is the best possible evidence. Under the law of contraband as it stood at the commencement of the last war goods primarily used for warlike purposes could be seized if going to enemy countries, so also might goods which might equally be used for either warlike or peaceful purposes, while goods exclusively for peaceful purposes could not be seized. It was also the case that under the rules of prize law as laid down more than a century ago goods were not regarded as destined to an enemy country unless they were to be discharged at one of its ports. The American prize courts, during the Civil War, found themselves compelled by the then existing conditions) of commerce to develop the doctrine of "continuous voyage," under which goods proved to be ultimately intended for an enemy country could be seized even if they were to be discharged in an intervening neutral port. It was made plain quite early in the last war that the restrictions placed in the way of inflicting on the enemy the full advantage of complete command of the sea would deprive the Allies of a powerful weapon, and March, 1915, saw the Allied Government determined to stop all goods coming from, or going to Germany,—in fact a general blockade,—which swept away all distinctions respecting contraband. Once the destination or origin of goods was established the power to stop was complete.
The definitions of contraband originally established by Grotius having thus been swept aside by the institution of an effective blockade, the Allies adopted the following policy:—(1) German exports to overseas countries were almost completely stopped. Exceptions were made where a refusal to allow the export of goods would hurt the neutral concerned without inflicting any injury on Germany,—this may on this occasion provide a means of satisfying the requirements of some of the neutrals who are protesting,—(2) all shipments to neutral countries adjacent to Germany were carefully scrutinized with a view to the detection of a concealed enemy destination. Wherever there were reasonable grounds for believing that to be the case the goods were detained and submitted to the decision of the Prize Courts, and (3) efforts were made to introduce a system of rationing which would ensure that the neutral countries concerned only imported such quantities of articles as were normally imported for their own consumption. This policy, it will be noticed, based upon the doctrine of effective blockade, was designed to subject neutrals to as little inconvenience as possible, and it speaks well for the toleration displayed by them on that occasion that, while there was undoubtedly considerable friction at first, the scheme worked satisfactorily, and in the end contributed greatly to the defeat of the enemy. The doctrine of continuous voyage works both ways. If goods going to a neutral port may be in fact destined for Germany, so may goods in neutral bottoms for export to other parts of the world have originated in that country, and to permit them thus to reach the outside world would in fact be reducing the effectiveness of the blockade by approximately one-half, and rendering it unjustifiable in the light of its chief test. Exports which provide exchange to enable Germany to continue to prosecute the war is definite contraband on the one hand, and can be rendered subject to the blockade on the other.
Of the propriety of the blockade as a weapon of warfare there cannot be the slightest doubt. It has been accepted as such at least since the time of Lysander, the Spartan admiral and diplomat, who used it four centuries before Christ to bring Athens to her knees. That it is a very dreadful weapon has to be admitted, but the real facts of the situation are that while the Allies are able to maintain: it against Germany in the completest possible form taking all conditions into consideration, the German attempt is almost ineffective and consequently entirely unjustified. One of the main reasons why Great Britain has at all times determined' on the maintenance of a great naval strength, is that command of the sea shall be made possible, and that water-borne supplies to an enemy shall be completely cut off. It is equally important that the enemy's export trade shall be destroyed at least for the duration of the war, and while the various neutrals may protest against the inconveniences to which they may be subjected, their case is at no time a strong one. That this step has been invoked by reason of the ruthless manner in which Germany is prosecuting the war, in no way weakens the Allies' position, They could have instituted this blockade of enemy exports from the very outbreak of the war, and had they done so they would have been well within their rights. It was a matter for criticism during the last year, and to some extent in this war already, that the Allies have hesitated to take the ultimate steps which war dictates, until some grievous departure of the enemy from the paths of decency calls forth reprisals. There are those who contend, with no small degree of reason, that once war has broken out any and every lawful steps should be taken against the enemy, no matter what the consequences to him may be. The Allies are faced with an opponent who has discarded all pretences to decency and is waging war in the most nakedly brutal way possible. There is, therefore, no reason whatever why every lawful means of ending this war in the Allies' favour should not be made use of.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.