Nov. 28.
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 ho small amount of friction, but nevertheless being enforced with considerable success. The blockade of Germany is justified by the tone 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.
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 Ameri~ can 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 interven ing neutral port, It was made plain quite carly'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 power= ful weapon, and March, 1915, saw the Allied Government determined to stop all goods coming from, or going to Germany,—in fact 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 in= jury 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 coun-{tries 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 con= sumption. 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 frst, 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 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 enable Germany to continue to prosecute the -war is definite contraband on the one hand, and can be rendered subject to the erossed the border into Holland, while they blockade on the other. were on a mission to receive some alleged Of the propriety of the blockade as a peace terms from a section of the Nazis, and; Weapon of warfare there cannot be the whose alleged connection the alleged (Continued on page 359, col 4)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.