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Show PLAN TO CUT OFF TR ADE0UTL1 NED ENGLAND PROPOSES TO SEVER ALL ARTERIES OF COMMERCE TO AND FROM GERMANY. Ayrees to Lift Blockade in Case Nation Na-tion Certifies That Ships Flying Its Flag Will Not Carry Goods to Germany. London. In a formal proclamation signed in council by the king and issued is-sued from Buckingham palace, Great Britain made known to the world, on Monday, how she proposes to sever all the arteries of sea commerce to and from Germany during the period of the war. As in Premier Asquith's speech forecasting the order, the term "blockade" "block-ade" is not used and no prohibited area js defined. Nevertheless, the text of the order makes plain England's Eng-land's purpose to prevent commodities commodi-ties of any kind from reaching or leaving leav-ing Germany during the war. British officials frankly called the movement a blockade, the foreign office of-fice describing it as an effective blockade, block-ade, differing from the effective blockades block-ades of history only in that the property prop-erty seized will not be confiscated outright, out-right, but sold, the proceeds eventually eventu-ally going to the owners. In the last clause of the proclamation proclama-tion is the proposal most interesting to neutrals. This is a flat agreement to lift the "blockade" in case any nation na-tion will certify that the ships flying its flag shall hot carry goods to Germany, Ger-many, or originating therein, or belonging be-longing to the subjects of the German empire. It is notable that the order declares no intention to capture ships proceeding proceed-ing to and from the countries of Germany's Ger-many's allies, Austria and Turkey, the reason being, no doubt, that the measure meas-ure is avowedly a reprisal against the German submarine warfare. However, a cordon of ships will be maintained to shut off the commerce of German ports and regulate trade in the war zone, although ships voyaging across the Atlantic will, it is said, be seized before they reach the North sea. W'hen a neutral vessel is held up, in all cases, except where there is a false declaration, or other attempt at subterfuge, sub-terfuge, the cargo only will be seized. A copy of the order in council was handed to the American ambassador for transmission to Washington. |