WHO ARE THE HUNS?

298 The North Sea as a Zone of War.
This procedure is also in complete contradiction to the
principles of the free export rights of the neutral states, as
set down and guaranteed in Article I of the 13th Convention
of the Second Hague Conference. Furthermore the right of
laying mines in accordance with the 8th Convention has been
grossly abused by the sowing of vast quantities of contact
mines upon the high seas, that is in international waters—
regions which had been respected by the Germans. The area
of the mine-field laid by England comprises some 5000 square
kilometers. England, that "respecter" of treaties has outdone
even herself, and by declaring the North Sea as a closed war
area she has sinned against three separate treaties at once and
has in fact declared war upon neutral trade. Captain Holmstroem,
the Chairman of the Swedish Shipper's Union, hits the
nail on the head when he declares that "this step on the part
of Britain in analogous to a death sentence upon neutral
maritime commerce."
Equally to the point is the German protest of November
14th, 1914:
"Peaceful commerce in the eyes of England, is confined,
apparently, to those neutral vessels which are engaged in carrying
goods to England, and does not include those which carry,
or attempt to carry goods to her enemies. The German Government
on its part is convinced that the endangering or damaging
of neutral sea-traffic rendered necessary by military measures,
has been confined within the smallest possible limits, and that it
has strictly adhered to the rules which have hitherto prevailed
among all civilized people for the control of naval warfare.
On the other hand, the damage inflicted upon the vital interests
of neutral shipping by the English side cannot be justified
by any military necessity, because it does not form a necessary
measure of warfare. It seeks only to strike at the economic
life of the enemy through the medium of legitimate neutral
trade. This disregard for the principles of the liberty of the
seas to which it makes appeal, nullifies the entire claim of the
British Government to act as the attorney of the neutrals in
the far less dangerous matter of laying mines."
The Channel is practically closed for neutral traffic because
of the reckless scattering of English mines, and despite the