In the first place, neutral shipping was largely interfered with, and, secondly, a large number of agreements had been made with shipping lines and shipowners under which they brought their ships into a British port for examination, while such vessels as were not under agreement to call were sent in by our naval patrols. This, of course, involved their going through what the Germans called the danger zone, and there was, therefore, a considerable possibility that neutral shipowners would throw over their agreements and break the blockade.

Two steps were taken to deal with the situation. In the first place the Blockade Order in Council of the 16th February, 1917,1 was issued, the effect of which was to make vessels trading to and from neutral ports in Europe liable to the risk of capture and condemnation if they were found attempting to evade calling for examination at a British port; and, in the second place, it was announced through the public press that neutral vessels would, on certain conditions, be allowed the privilege of calling for examination at certain British ports outside the United Kingdom such as Halifax in Nova Scotia instead of at Kirkwall, and that British bunker coal would only be allowed to those neutral vessels which undertook to call at an appointed British port and perform certain services in return. Concurrently with these measures insurance on favorable terms was laid open to all vessels engaged in trading in the Allied interests, and His Majesty's Government further offered to hire or purchase large blocks of neutral shipping.

These expedients have, on the whole, worked exceedingly well. There has been no serious attempt to break the blockade; and, on the other hand, the power to give or refuse what are called "Halifax facilities"—that is to say, the privilege of being examined outside the danger zone has furnished us with a powerful inducement to neutral shipowners to comply with the various blockade and shipping requirements that we have put forward. As an indication of the success of our policy, it is sufficient to mention that there has been an increase of about 50 per cent in the amount of neutral tonnage employed in Allied trades over the figure for the same trades in February, 1917, and this represents no less than 1,000,000 tons of additional tonnage.

The other great blockade event of this year has been the declaration of War between the United States and Germany,2 followed by similar declaration from, or rupture of relations by, a considerable number of South American States.3 This has enabled us and our Allies to stop imports to the border neutrals at the source.

This method of stopping the export to Germany of home produce from the border neutrals is, strictly speaking, not a blockade measure at all, but the exercise of the sovereign rights of the Allied and cobelligerent States to impose conditions upon their trade with the border neutrals. The process belongs juridically to the category of commercial

1 N. W. C., 1917, p. 142.

2 Ibid., 1917, p. 225.

3 Ibid., 1917, pp. 15-17.

4 Export prohibitions, Great Britain, infra, p. 95, N. W. C., 1915, p. 57; Russia, infra, p. 139; United States, infra, p. 195; Neutral European States, N. W. C., 1915, p. 33 et seq.

treaties rather than that of blockade or the like; but in substance the effect is the same as that aimed at by the blockade, namely, the cutting off of our enemies from all external trade.

Public attention has been fixed, not unnaturally, more upon the food blockade of Germany than anything else, but it is very doubtful whether this is its most important aspect. The evidence is strong to show that Germany is also suffering gravely from the want of such things as wool, leather, cotton, rubber, and so on.

It is hoped that we may see considerable results in the future from the new forms of pressure which the entry of America into the war has enabled us to employ, all the more so since the purchase agreements on which we have been compelled to rely, in the absence of a lever such as we now possess, have involved us in the expenditure of large sums of money in Scandinavia and Holland, which expenditure has become more difficult to provide for owing to the exchange position in those countries.

Proclamation prohibiting the export of certain commodities,
August 3, 1914.1

(London Gazette, Aug. 3, 1914, p. 6056.)

By the King. A Proclamation, prohibiting under section 8 of "The customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1879," 2 the exportation from the United Kingdom of certain warlike stores.

George, R. I.:

Whereas by the 8th section of "The Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1879," it is enacted that We may by Proclamation or Order in

1 Additions to this list were proclaimed and published in the London Gazette every few days, and revised consolidated lists appeared every few months; see London Gazette November 10, 1914, p. 9226; February 3, 1915, p. 1165; July 28, 1915, p. 7427 (Published by United States State Department, August 28, 1915, N. W. C., 1915, p. 57); May 10 1915, p. 4533. The last contains four schedules alphabetically arranged, marked respectively (a), export prohibited to all destinations; (b), export prohibited to all ports and destinations abroad other than ports and destinations in British possessions and protectorates; (c), export prohibited to all destinations in foreign countries in Europe and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas other than France and French Possessions, Russia Italy and Italian Possessions, Spain, Portugal, and to all ports in any such foreign countries and to all Russian Baltic Ports. Some of the earlier lists had in addition a schedule (d), which in the list of February 3, 1915, included Tin plates and tin boxes, the export of which was prohibited to ports in Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden, and in the list of July 28, 1915, p. 7427, includes coal only, the export of which was prohibited to all but British Possessions, and Protectorates and allied countries. For other lists prohibiting export to enumerated neutral countries near Germany, infra, p. 97. The import of certain goods has been prohibited by the British government in order to conserve tonnage for more necessary imports, under authority of section 43 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, which provides that the importation of arms, ammunition, gun powder, or any other goods may be prohibited by Proclamation. By Prohibition of Imports, No. 5, Proclamation, May 10, 1916, London Gazette, p. 4641, Bladders, Sausage skins, Brooms and Brushes, Bulbs, Trees and Shrubs, Canned and Dried Vegetables and Pickles, Horns and Hoofs, Ice, Ivory, Moss litter, Salt, Starch, Dextrose, Potato Flour, may not be imported except under license of the Board of Trade. The administration of these trade restrictions was facilitated by a Board of Trade Notice, November 7, 1914, which stated that certificates of origin and ultimate destination would be required for certain goods. (London Gazette, November 10, 1914, p. 9127). 2 42 and 43 Vict., c. 21.

Council prohibit the exportation of arms, ammunition, and gunpowder, military and naval stores, and any articles which we shall judge capable of being converted into or made useful in increasing the quantity of military or naval stores, provisions or any sort of victual which may be used as food for men:

And whereas, We, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, deem it expedient and necessary that We should exercise such power of prohibition in manner hereinafter appearing:

Now We, by and with the advice aforesaid, do hereby order and direct that from and after the date hereof the following goods, being articles which we have judged capable of being converted into or made useful in increasing the quantities of military or naval stores, that is to say:

Acetone;

Aeroplanes, airships, balloons of all kinds and their component parts;
Animals, pack, saddle, and draught, suitable for use in war;
Arms, rifled, of all kinds, and their component parts;

Benzol;

Carbons designed for searchlights;

Chrome and ferro chrome;

Cloth, hempen;

Cartridges, charges of all kinds, and their component parts;
Copper, ore or unwrought, all kinds;

Cotton suitable for use in the manufacture of explosives;

Cotton waste;

Creosote;

Dimethylamiline;

Engines and lorries, internal combustion, capable of carrying a load

of 25 hundredweight and upwards, whole or in parts;

Fulminate of mercury;

Gunpowder;

Nets, torpedo;

Nickel and ferro nickel;

Oil, blast furnace;

Oil, coal tar;

Oil, fuel, shale;

Oil, olive;

Oil, mineral, lubricating;

Petroleum, fuel oil;

Petroleum, gas oil;

Petroleum, spirit or motor spirit (including shell spirit);
Projectiles of all kinds and their component parts;

Sacks, coal;

Silk, cloth, silk braid, silk thread, suitable for cartridges;
Silk noils;

Surgical bandages and dressings;

Toluol;

Zinc;

shall be and the same are hereby prohibited to be exported from the United Kingdom.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this Third day of August, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand, nine hundred and fourteen, and in the Fifth year of Our reign.

God Save the King.

Proclamation prohibiting the export of certain articles to the Scandinavian countries and Netherlands. October 2, 1917.

[London Gazette, October 2, 1917, p. 10173.]

By the King. A Proclamation, prohibiting under section 1 of "The Exportation of Arms Act, 1900," and section 1 of ""The Customs (Exportation Restriction) Act, 1914," 2 the exportation from the United Kingdom of certain articles to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

George, R. I.

Whereas by section 1 of "The Exportation of Arms Act, 1900,” 1 it is enacted that We may by Proclamation prohibit the exportation of all or any of the following articles, namely, arms, ammunition, military, and naval stores, and any article which We shall judge capable of being converted into or made useful in increasing the quantity of arms, ammunition, or military, or naval stores, to any country, or place there names, and wherever We shall judge such prohibition to be expedient in order to prevent such arms, ammunition, military or naval stores, being used against Our subjects or forces or against any force engaged or which may be engaged in military or naval operations in cooperation with our forces;

And whereas by section 1 of "The Customs (Exportation Restriction) Act, 1914,' "2 it is enacted that section 1 of "The Exportation of Arms Act, 1900," 1 shall have effect whilst a state of war in which We are engaged exists as if, in addition to the articles therein mentioned, there were included all other articles of every description;

1 2

And whereas by virtue of a Proclamation 3 dated the 18th August, 1916, made in pursuance of the said "Exportation of Arms Act, 1900,' as amended by "The Customs (Exportation Restriction) Act, 1914,' all articles whatever other than those excepted by the said Proclamation are now prohibited to be extended to the Kingdom of Sweden;

And whereas by virtue of a Proclamation dated the 10th May, 1917, made in pursuance of the said Acts, and by subsequent Order of Council issued under the authority of the later act, certain goods are now prohibited to be exported to inter alia the Kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands;

1 63 and 64 Vict., c. 44.

24 and 5 Geo. 5, c. 64.

• London Gazette, August 18, 1916, p. 8122.

116506-19

And whereas, We have deemed it expedient to revoke the said Proclamation dated the 18th August, 1916, and to prohibit the exportation to Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands of all articles whatsoever, other than those hereinafter excepted;

Now, therefore, We have thought fit, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, to issue this Our Royal Proclamation, declaring, and it is hereby declared, that the above-mentioned Proclamation, dated the 18th August, 1916, be, and the same is hereby revoked as from the 8th of October, 1917, and that the exportation of the following articles be prohibited in and after that date to all ports and destinations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, viz:

All articles which are not by virtue of any Proclamation for the time being in force, made under section 8 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1879,1 as amended by any act, or under the Exportation of Arms Act, 1900, as Amended by any Act, prohibited to be exported to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, except:

2

(1) Printed matter of all descriptions.

(2) Personal effects accompanied by their owners.

Given at our Court at Buckingham Palace, this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of Our Lord, on thousand, nine hundred and seventeen, and in the Eighth year of Our Reign.

God Save the King.

RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL STATUS.

Statement of policy with reference to a national home for the Jews, December, 1917.

[The War Cabinet, Report for 1917, p. 14.]

His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use its best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

Declaration by Supreme War Council, attended by premiers of Great Britain, France, and Italy, with reference to Poles, Czechs, and JugoSlavs, at Versailles June 4, 1918.

[New York Times, Current History, 8 (pt. 2), 127.]

The creation of a united, independent Polish State, with free access: to the sea, constitutes one of the conditions of a solid and just peace and the rule of right in Europe.

The allies have noted with satisfaction the declaration of the American Secretary of State,3 to which they adhere, expressing the greatest sympathy with the national aspirations of the Czechs and Jugo-Slavs: for freedom.

142 and 43 Vict., c. 21.

263 and 64 Vict., c. 44.

* Infra, p. 209. Declaration of Rome, infra, p. 107.