ESTIMATIONS
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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 17TH, 1915.
THE TWO BLOCKADES.
MR. BALFOUR DEFENDS BRITISH POLICY.
A REPLY TO AN ÍLLEGAL AND IMMORAL ATTACK.,
Mr. Balfour has prepared the follow ing statement in regard to the blockade of Germany by the fleets of the Allies, and it is being circulated abroad: ---
Great interest has naturally been excit ed in America over the threatened blockade of Germany by the Allied fleete, and many criticisms have been directed against the Governments responsible for this policy. This is most natural and legitimate. The Order in Council affects both neutral interests and interna tional law. And the United States of America the greatest of all neutrals and a leader of reform in international procedure has a double interest in the discussion.
Let me say, before I go further, that I am in no sense personally responsible for
INSPECTION OF OUR NEW MODELS the policy which has been adopted. I
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"RUSSIA IN TIME OF WAR.
PEASANT OPINION.
"PRUSSIA MUST BE THRASHED.”
The special correspondent' of the Lon- don Daily Telegraph recently wrote from Petrograd
answer is not directly connected with legal definitions of blockade, but with problems of international morality. There are German thinkers of distinction who deny that any such morality exists; bat this, happily, is not a doctrine which has any chance of, acceptance then, does international morality re- among English-speaking peoples, What, quire of one belligerent when the other belligerent tramples international law in the dust? To soud persons the answer A Russian merchant, who has just to this question seems easy. Why, they returned from a drive of between 500 ask, should the crima of one party and 400 miles over a familiar route in modify the policy of the other Interns the interior of this country, has supplied tional rules should be obeyed by both me with some interesting facts as to the sides, but their repudiation by one side changes wrought by the war on the pro- Laves the obligation of the other unimsant population of the regious through paired. Such an answer, however, con- which he passed. His tour took him founds international morality with through districts which are distant as international law; and though doubtless the two are closely related, they are not identical. The obligation of the first is absolute, that of the second is condi- tional, and one of its conditions is reciprocity.
IMPOTENCE HAS DUTIES AS WELL AS
TRIVILEGES."
much as 160 miles from the nearest rail- way, and almost devoid of anything which could be called a town, but he found everywhere that the developments of the campaign were followed with astonishing attention and intelligence.
Newspapers, which were, of course, many days old, were eagerly sought after, closely read, and passed from hand to hand, but the peasants were not mainly dependent upon the Press for their knowl edge of the chief events at the front.
HOOP OR HOBBLE.
"HOPELESSLY SILLY LAWS” OF FASHION
A WOMAN'S PROTEST.
Thus Allee Herbert in the Evening. Standard:
A lady novelist (an 'able ono) has just boon writing to the papera. he says, with piteous truth, that most of us have ward- robes full of narrow frocks, left over from last summer, and now comos Fashion and ninkes fools of us with wide things nearly fit for crinolines,
Won't it be awful if crinolines do really come? a woman said to me. She had the parted lips of one who has just heard that 80,000 Germans are at Sarbi- ton. Crinoline, apparently, can come like influenza, and provo less answerable than the submarine.
women, very silly women, and women? . Can it be that my sex consists of silly Or is it merely that we have always had the wrong job allotted to us Which of our specialities do we manage well? We cannot choose the clothics we wear, or keep our servants or our husbands, or control
If any feel inclined to quarrel with the was not consulted upon it; and I view
word conditional" let them consider with the greatest dislike any course violate the rules of international war deprived of all its sanctions;-if-the State-Since his last visit to these regions all our daughters, and I only know one which seems in the smallest degree to what would Juppen if ordinary law were fare. But those who will consent to con. lost. ali power to enforce obligations to the larger villages had been linked up by female cook who gives you nice potatoes. I think, be persuaded that the policy of guilty. A community so situated might girenlated almost as rapidly as it is in frocks I have been told that we shall look sider the present case on its merits will,
telephone, and by this means news is the capital. the Allies has a conclusive moral justift cation.
THE THREAT AND THE REFLY.
thrashed! The
专属
If we all calmly wear out narrow
keep them in the fashion, and force the conspicuous. That we should thereby conspicuousness on to the voluminously. skirted, does not occur to anyone.
A. SILLY SHIRT.
protect the innocent or to punish the
For the information of the areas which prosper so long as there was a general agreement to obey the laws and the agree mont were maintained. But if the
are not included in the telephone sys criminals broke it whenever it suited tem, an organisation has been extem Put shortly, the case is this: The them, ought the innocaut tamely to sub porised which works very rapidly and Gormans declare that they will sinkinit? Ought they to entrust their effectively. The leading news of the day is written on sheets of paper, which are
I, who exude intelligence aftevery pore, every merchant ship which they believe security to polies who could afford no to be British, without regard to life, protection, and to courts which could seron to traders, who are asked to any just as bad. I have a growing without regard to the ownership of the afford to inflict no penalties? Ought they, so that the contents to the villagers that part of the proceeds of this alread
will go in a wide, silly skirt, and coat- cargo without any assurance that the in short, to behave precisely as they would as they go along. vessel is not neutral, and without even if social conditions were normal? Few, absence of men in the prime of their tastes are all for long and slender lins
Naturally, the eye was struck by the with little jaunty tail whereas the pretence of legal investigation. The I believe, would think so.
"hasFor many years I have desired a pocket. British reply that if this are to be the Now the relation between States under oars, but although every family
same member in the fighting line and So have thousands. To please the people methods of warfare employed by the international law most closely resembles
many have already suffered hercare who sell bags (I cannot think of any enemy, the Allies will retaliate by en- the relation between individuals in such forcing a blockade designed to prevent a community as I have described. Interment, the attitude of the peasants towards ), we have gone pocketless, ther our bags on counters and in trains and all foreign goods from entering Gernational law has no sanètions; no penal and over 88 The Prussians must be that the snapper-up has gathered for the
the war is absolutely unflinching. · Over
was heard the resolute buses. The purses and the Inch-keys 99many, and all Gerinan goods from going ties are inflicted on those who violate its declaration
abroad. Whether such a policy be, or be rules, and if a State makes use of for not, in harmony with the accepted rules bidden weapons, the neutrals, who blame of international law is a point to which its policy, do nothing to protect its I shall refer in a moment. But this at victims. Nor is this surprising. In the least may be said in its favour. It can present unorganised condition of inter not cause the death of a single innocent national relations it could not well be civilian; it cannot destroy neutral lives otherwise. But let them remember that and neutral property without legal pro-impotence, like power, has duties as wall cess; it cannot inflict injury upon neutral as privileges; and if they cannot enforce commeres comparable in character or the law on those who violate both its extent to that which would be produced spirit and it left, let them not raake by a blockada whose legality was beyond haste to criticins belligerents who may thereby be compelled in self-defence to question.
But this contention, however true, is, in violate its letter, while carefully regard the eyes of some critics, quite itama ing its spirit. For etherwise the injury terial Law (they say) is low. Those to the future daclopment of interns who broak it are guilty of a wrong which tional law may be serious indeed. It the does not become a right because others rules of warfare are to bind one belliger have broken it in a manner yet more deont and leave the other free, they cease serving of condemnation. The German to mitigate suffering, they only lond the practice may be brutal to belligerents dice in favour of the unscrupulous, and and reckless towards neutrals; the those countries will most readily agree British practies may be careful of human to changes in the law of nations who du
not mean to be bought by them. Neither "non-combatants, No matter. can find justification in the accepted rules of war; both, therefore, fall under the same condemnation. But such a mode of
standards must be used with caution, cal standards in a case where technical
It appeals to the letter of international law, but it ignores the spirit,
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GERMANY'S METHODS.
KO such
And
ad The word Germany was hardly this time. It is quite safe to trust most women with a latch-key. They will not ever heard mentioned, and, with remark- able political acumen, these simple keep it long enough to make it dangerous. people have realised that it is Prussia
Men, says the writer of the protect, nio and the doctrine of violence incorporated under no sneh tyranny. I do not quite in her against which we are now fighting. agree. The frock-coat was the dumpy Their appreciation of this fact has been man's opportunity.
It gave him a sharpened by the presence in thier midst majesty which the morning-coat, failing of a large mumber of prisoners of war him in his weakest spot, deprives him of; They sum up their experiences with these but where is the frock-com 10 captives in the words. The Austrian what aule in the twenties will dared is polite, like the Russian soldier, but grow a heard and get off the trouble if trussia is a brute with whom it is shaving or the waste of time and impossible to do anything. In one dis. at the barbers? No, men ha and tips trict in which the question had been of the whip-a flick on occasion; but wo agricultural work which, in the natural Fashion orders. stripes. raised of supplying prisoners to do the are striped from neck to to2, when order of events, would have fallen to the men now on active service, the peasants said "You can send us Austrians, but if any Prussians come here we will hunt them out of the place with our fails,"
AUSTRO-GERMAN HATRED.
Is there no hope for as? Our hammers now have all been turned into knitting needles: but when the great and terrible things have passed away, and left the little things to lift their trodd a heads again, could we not realise that clothes started with defiance of Hime are not an act of God? In fact, they
Incidentally it may be meatiered that the greatest difficulty in controlling the envenomed quarrelling and fighting prisoners arises from the incessant and
EACH FOR HERSELF! between the Germans and Austrians. In where beauty is concerned, if every Think what an England it would by some places it has been found necessary on, though they work together during picturesqueness of fancy ball!
woman wore the style that suited her. if to separate the two nationalities. At passers-by in every street could have the daytime, they are quartered for the night course, utility should count, and comnton- OF on thy opposite banks of a canal. The sense, But how much of either is there Austriaus, as a general rule, work will in a hobble" which will not let you ingly and cheerfully, but the Germans jump into a 'bus, or in a spreading skirt are surly-and-readoftrant and sometimes that makes you take the rear of twe can only be induced to do anything by instead of one when you are in the threat of drastic measures of com- pulsion.
AT PRICES WHICH COMPARE FAVOURABLY WITH THOSE OF ANY countries-as, for instanco, by letting barbarous before the law of nations took ring the cuppaiga to a victorious con-nearly made me sead the
OTHER ESTABLISHMENT IN THE FAR EAST.
ESTIMATES FURNISHED.
has
But though, as I think, international law can hardly b Fiterally obeyed anless both sides are prepared to obey it, we must not conclude that the abs me of acting as if international law and inter reciprocity justifies the injured party in
national morality had thereby been abrogated. This would be a monstrous THE RULE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION."
The Germans, who began the war by tearng up a treaty, continued What, in the cyms of the objector, is the defect of the British Order in it by inflicting the work horrors of Council It is that the blockade of which war upon & people they had sworn to notic is there given does not possess all defend. Could we therefore, argue that
One cause of our dislike of individual- the characteristics of a blockade as de- because the obligations of international
ity is our champions. These disastrous ETC.fied in authoritative text-books; and law are reciprocal, the Allies, when the
Letters received by the peasants from ladies, in their limp and fivered-coloured that, in particular, it violates the rule opportunity occurs, would be justified in their men-folk in the army are full of serges, lanky hair, flat shoes, and neries which forbids discrimination "
plundering private property shooting glowing eulogies of the Grand Duke less hats have such a self-righteous air
Nicholas,
couse of being the rejected of men, but elected whose popularity is favour of one neutral as against another, innoemt civilians, outraging women, It is designed to prevent the blockading that Germany has done to Belgium?
Now the object of this rule seems clear and wantonly destroying works of art quently as great in these remote regions of heaven, that our gorge haleseted
as it is in the big towns. The country- them. Could they rightly de to Germany all
Just as a suffrage meeting has folk havt: profound faith in the tenacity always sent me out an anti, ready to Power using its privileges in order to mele out different treatment to different doctrine. These things were brutal and
Assuredly not. 1 preich
and impartiality of the Commander-in- talk about that cradle and all the other Chief, and are convinced that he will antidotes,
while an anti-mee for ships of one nationality pass the blockad-
clusion There is no sign of any im- the hammer or barn the Marble Arch, so patience among them at the duration of the sight of the consciously ancorseted, ing cordon while it captures the ships of formal shape; they would remain brutal another. Such a procedure is, on the and barbarous if the law of nations fell
the war. Here, too, they seem thorough however, deliciously face of it, unfair. It could have no ob-line the replay or lately to have realised the essentials of the jeet but to assist the trade of one neutral lave right is sould not justify as in situation, and they say, there is plenty as against the trade of another, and kind, It this would justify us in of arbitrarily to redistribute the burden descending to her level. The policy They have great admiration for their woman with по nonsense about hor which war unhappily inflicts on neutrals which I am defending has no resemblance as well as on belligerents. Now I sub-to this. It viulates no deep ethical British Allies, thons Bae fellows who will have no sweet nonsense offered her
are capturing Constantinople." mit that if there be discrimination instincts; it is in harmony with the spirit of international law; it is more regard-
Asked how they got on without spirits, let it not be silly nonsense, inflicted by the British blockade, it is not ful of neutral internets than the accepted the peasants replied At first it was discrimination of this kind. It does, no
alilo hard; but now we have got used I have heard women say that the fault | Sweden and Norway in the same position is designed to indict on the enemy of this one? almost universal beverage they type of man is flattered to be seen with
doubt, leave the German trade with les at blockade; nor is the injury which
to doing without vodka. In-place of lies partly with her vanity. A certain a different character from that inflicted
now drink coffee, and a particular type women who look "smart"
The fact by an ordinary blockade. And, lastly, it
of-coffee-machine, with a whistle, which remains that dowdinuss does not always 4ply to an attack which is not only legal bat immoral, and if some reply be inden the water boils, has become lie in wearing the unfashionable thing
as indispensable an article in the equip It quite as often means wearing the right spent of many a peasant log-hut as the thing in the wrong way or having altos sacred samovar. Alreads the old the wrong hair and figure. We terms for a gratuity, Nachai (for all know the woman who turns Bonds tea) and Narodki (for vodka) are street into Briston in the act of putting being replaced by nakofe (for coffee). on. Men are very, very innocent in these
My informant noticed a curious bye matters, as a rule.
The average wife product of the sobering of the nation. has only to exhume a tea gown of tho The rich and redolent expletive with nineteenth century and wear it with an which the conversation of the moujik was air for the average husband to exclaim ever heard. formerly liberally spiced, are now hardly Another new creation ?***
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CALDBECK,
as the German, trade' with Holland and.
Doumsrk, and in a different position from the German trade with America or Africs. But the "discrimination (if it is to be so described) not the result of
a deliberate policy, but of a geographical accidant. It is not due to any desire to favour Scandinavian exporters us com- pared with American osporters; and in practies it will kaye no such effect. Thay are not, nor to any important extent can they be, competing rivals in the German market.
MACGREGOR&C, there should be a blockade of the new
one be devised?
THE, "* INFERIOR " BRITISH,
GERMANY'S SELF-COMPLACENT
VANITY.
always turned my thoughtortably has cris. There need not be too fatally much commonsense about our clothes.
The
But let the nonsense bo our own; and
ON DOWDINESS.
+
The Cologne Gazette publishes a curious WHAT INTERNATIONAL NORALITY REQUIRES. Germany over England superiority. article on the essential superiority of
Seriously, when, as the protesting novel- If any than be in doubt whether this items says the Times, quoting the
In some places be passed through the ist observes, such mighty issues are point be technical or substantial, let him article, which is bound to remain, what work ne usually done by me has now stake, nesd we give half thought to. weigh the following considerationsver the result of the war may be.
faller to the women, who are showing fooleries of fashion?
There are some There The rule against discrimination was There is said to be not, the smallest wonderful capazity or unfamiliar tasks things to which we must submit.
is one style of dress that fate may really devised (as we have seen) in the interests reason to take a black view of things," Altogether, the war seems to have had a of neutrals. But which is best for neu-
most stimulating effect on the peassat bring of any moment the black dress but even in the worst event, that of trals-that there should be a blockade
mind, which is now averting itself on of the widow, the fatherless girl, the son- England imposing upon Germany an un-
From that dyes may conducted in the ordinary way, or that favourable peace, it would never be pos to it.
many problems previously a sealed book less mother.
Specially keen is the interest Haven keep us, though we shall wear sible for England to get the better of pattern described in the Order of Coun- the German spirit."
taken in education, and the hope is every it, those of us who earn it, as the role cil? The latter may inde'd ignore the The first reason for this state of things where expressed that the conclusion of of the King's daughter. In face of this, Baltic, and treat Seandinavia as if, like is
peace will be followed by an improve the sumptuary law of sorrow, how do the England's luziness and " dull ment of the schools.
silly, silly laws of Fashion stand? WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS, Holland, it were divided from Germany1thargy." The second reason is Gar-
We are not dolls, but sisters, mothers, only by a laud frontier. But while the many's superiority in "intellectual pos
wives and the fashion-columu is not the discrimination so produced can inflict no wasions." The third reason is the miser
column that we turn to now, in every substantial injury. on any neutral, the able state of English education.
paper, with a quickening pulse. blockade to which it is due, unlike its The fourth cause of German superiority more orthodox predecessors, forbids the the German military system, that capture either of neutral shipping or incomparable institution which no power neutral goode (other than contraband of in the world shall take away." The end war), and so relieves the neutral import of the matter is as follows: Wo Ger er of his most serious anxieties.
mans, therefore, can say, in pride and But, after all, it is the equity of the confidence, that we are intellectually mainly interests the thinking public in Allied case rather than the law which stronger than England, and that in the intellectual sphere we are at least fifty America and elsewhere. The question years ahead. It will be our task to main which presses most insistently for an tain this lead."
15, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL,
[15]
In hot weather knock off alcohol, drink pleaty of "MONTSERRAT" Lime Juice, lit k "s you fit.
[240-2
Fine music and fin poultry were two things of which little Ella's father was very fond. Recently he bought a talking- machine, and among other records was one of a very brilliant aria by a great coloratura soprano. The baby listened closely to the runs of the bewildered music until the singer struck some high arpeggios and frills at the close, when shs exclaimed:
"Daddy, listen! She's laid an egg !-- Ladies' Homé Journal,
-
A Tientsin contemporary learns from a reliable source that the cultivation, salo and consumption of opium is proceeding on as large a scaleas ever before in Shansi The Governor himself is reported to be addicted to the drug, it is allowed to be grown openly throughout the province, and people are smoking it more general ly and openly than for many years past.