THE BLOCKADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2674, 21 January 1916, Page 7

THE BLOCKADE

BRITAIN'S DECISION TAKEN THE DOCTRINE OF "ULTIMATE DESTINATION". WILL BE RIGOROUSLY ENFORCED Br Telegraph—Press Association—popyrlgM London, January 19. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Washington says that dispatches declare that' Britain has secured the assent of the Allies to a formal blockade of German ports. Britain is perfectly prepared for protests from neutrals. It is recognised here that the united front presented by the Allies will disconcert German-American representatives, who had hoped to confine the discussion to London (without reference to the Allies. The new programme contemplates the virtual extension of the blockade to European, neutrals by a rigorous application of the "ultimate destination" doctrine, with the object of preventing direct or indirect trad© with the Teutonic Powers. Such an object is approved here except by the GermanAmerican Press, which shrieks deliriously. The correspondent goes on to say that the British regarded such neutral ports as Rotterdam arid Malmo as practically German .ports during the war, and only by closing them to German commerce could the plans for, starving _ the Anstrians and Germans be effective. > There is a disposition' in some quarters in America to welcome the blockade as , the most effective way of ending the war. FRANCE AND ITALY RELUCTANT TO ACT THE RIGHTS OF NEUTRALS. Washington, January 19. It is stated that the delay in .putting the blockade plans into effect is attributed to (reluctance on the part of France, and possibly Italy, to accept the British view of the rights of belligerents. It is rumoured that France objects to the right to blockade a neutral port. Probably the arrangement should bo that Britain will enforce the blockade in the North Sea, and France and Italy that in the Mediterranean.

EFFECTIVE BUT LAWFUL AMERICA BOUND TO ACQUIESCE. New York, January 19. The "New York World" says an actual effective blockade would interfere with American trade, but in a lawful manner. Whenever Britain is prepared to undertake such a blockade, America is bound to acquiesce. SIX HOLLAND-AMERICA LINERS HELD UP ' FOODSTUFFS TO BE SUBMITTED TO PRIZE COURTS. Rotterdam, January 19. The British Navy detained six Hol-land-America liners, hut allowed them to proceed conditionally on the foodstuffs in the cargo being submitted to the British Prize Court. PATRIOTKWORSMEN WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR OUTPUT IS GOING. London, January 19. Several thousand workers at the Dunlop Works in Birmingham stopped work, unler the impression that tires ■were finding their way to Germany through Denmark. They resumed after an assurance by the-company's superintendent and an official from the Ministry of Munitions that the goods were not going to Germany. ENEMY TRADERS ON TRIAL GLOVE MERCHANTS CHARGED. London, January 19. William Gurden Rigden, William Fownes Rigden, and Stanley Fownes Rigden, partners in the glove firm of Fowies Brothers, were charged with trading with the enemy. Counsel stated that • correspondence had been found showing that _tho defendants, who had a branch in Now York, owned by a company in Germany, imported to New York from Germany goods to the value of £6000, promising to pay for them after tho war, paying additional interest, and promising big orders. The defendants were remanded on bail, on sureties of £2000 each. NEW BILL WITH DRASTIC POWERS. (Rec. January 20, 9.50 p.m.) London January 20. Drastic powers are conferred by the new Trading With the Enemy Bill, which empowers the Board of Trade to prohibit the carrying on of a business during the war; or vest enemy property or patents in a. custodian.