Show THE BLOCKADE BEGUN the united states officially notified No tined will not recognize Ee flie the bicke BIc kB 1 I and d will ry ray no attention to it kniess our oar com commeree Is interfered with washington march 31 21 secretary of state sherman has hai been notified that a pacific blockade of crete was begun at 9 sunday morning nor ning the notification was wai made in concert by the representatives of the six powers signatory to the berlin treaty great britain france italy germany austria hungary ard and russia the language of the several notes it Is identical they formally announce anno 6 the commencement of th the e blockade of cretan ports port against ships alp the greek nag biag it it Is further declared that merchant vessels of neutral powers including those of the united states state will not be distributed in their usual commercial ventures venture providing their cargoes contain no merchandise for use uie by the greeks or insurgents of the island such vessels however will be subject object to inspection by the blockading warships warship of the concerted squadrons there Is if little likelihood that the united states will give its iti assent to I 1 the blockade or in fact even notice the communications communication of the several powers powen secretary sherman said that the matter matte te r because of its iti remotest remo interest Int erett to this ahll government had not been considered in any way it Is I 1 not likely to receive con considers sidera tion until a merchant vessel of the united states attempting to enter cretan Is prevented by the block aiding ships chips the matter master of the american ship would in this case caie call the matter to the attention of the navy department apartment part ment and president Pred dent mckinley and his advisers adviser would then have to decide upon a policy in view of the fact however that only three vessels flying the american flag passed paced through the suez canal in the year 1895 two of which were private yachts yacht and the third a warship and only one also alio a warship in 1896 Is apparent that there Is little possibility of the united states becoming involved Inthe in the cretan trouble while secretary sherman declined to discuss the matter in any way the other officials of the state department say that if the occasion arises the united states would be likely to refuse to recognition but there are many eminent international lawers who contend that pacific blockades tor for the purpose of coercion are in violation of the laws of nations |