WHO ARE THE HUNS?

The "Submarine Blockade." 351
IV.
There are various other points which might be emphasized
in the interchange of notes between the United States and other
neutrals and the Triple Entente. See, for instance, the interchange
of letters between the Ambassador of the United States
in Paris and M. Delcassé, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, page 99,
of the original edition.
But the very acme of the piratical measures which have
been discussed in the foregoing were achieved by the states
of the Triple Entente some time in March, 1915.
The official organ of the French Government under the
date of March 17th, published a "décret" upon the "measures
of retaliation" to be undertaken by the Allies against the German
trans-oceanic trade. This decree is preceded by a report directed
by the French Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Finance, of War
and the Navy, to the President of the Republic. This report
is supposed to furnish the reasons for the new regulations. 1
part of his arguments. These are the more interesting for us to-day, as they
are grounded upon the principles of war according to the Naval War College
of the United States. Nor do Dr. Pearce Higgins and the Naval War College
stand alone in their opinions. The naval correspondent of the "Times"—
which frequently represents the views and standpoint of the Government—
comments upon Dr. Higgins' letter in the issue of November 12th, 1914, and
says that the Law of Warfare therein discussed, the right to remove neutral
ships which disturb or interfere with military operations, had not yet been
employed by England. But the time might come, when it would be necessary."
See further Dr. Higgins' letter to the "Times."
1 The announcement of the measures to be taken by England for preventing
the export and the import of goods to and from Germany is, according
to Reuter, introduced with the following declaration: "In consideration
of the fact that the German Government has published certain conclusions,
wherein in contradiction to the usages of war, the waters around Great Britain
are declared as a zone of war, within the limits of which all the merchant
vessels of England and its allies are to be destroyed without consideration
for the lives of the passengers and the crews; in conFideration of the fact that
in an explanatory memorandum to these determinations it is declared that
neutrals are warned against entrusting crews, passengers and goods to the
vessels of England and its allies; in consideration of the fact that such an
attitude on the part of the enemy, gives his Majesty the indisputable right
of retaliation—His Majesty has determined to take other measures in order
to prevent all articles of commerce from either leaving or reaching Germany."
(retranslation)