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Show I i Will Venezuela share in that peace 1 "tvhich the supreme law-giver pro- I 5 claimed 1902 years ago? So far "a I . peaceful blockade" is the best meas- I ure proclaimed. But "a peaceful block- I ; ade" by guns and bayonets means vio- I ' lence and not peace. Christ conquered J the world without resort to arms and j I ; : , brought peace tc all menVif good will. , We are told by our best lawyers that ' ; i the fundamental principle of interna- ; j tional law is the equality of states. When powerful nations proclaim a ; I blockade against a weaker state that I ! has been suffering from Internal trou- I blcs, that fundamental principle is re- 1 versed, and we have the inequality of ' - states. Nations, like individuals, have , rights which should be judicated by an i impartial court. England and Germany ! ! are judge and jury in the present con- 5 troversy. They have rendered judgment ' in their own behalf and are executing sentence by "a peaceful blockade." I Apart from Venezuela, that sentence i affects the rights of other r.ations. No foreign vessel is allowed to pass the j "peacef ul blockade.' Trade and com-, com-, inerce are brought to a standstill. Why -I ' i should England and Germany, in time i of peace war "is not declared interfere with American trade? This supposed j "peaceful attitude" should not cripple ' the commerce of disinterested and neu- ', tral powers.- It is a menace to our I ; country and an indirect violation of I the Monroe doctrine. Venezuela is ' powerless, and her weak physical con- '' ' '' dition is the sole cause of the present y , "peaceful blockade." It should not af- feet American trade. Our vessels ' ) should be free to enter, all ports that f are "peacefully blockaded." It was so ' in 189" when the ruling. powers peace- ( fully blockaded Crete. Will our ruling I powers insist on their rights? The allied al-lied powers may be too strong, on sea . . ) for our navy to. insist on our "rights, I but we cannot afford to be bluffed. |