CO129-420 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [1-2] — Page 423

+

Berlin,

}

Nov. 12, 1914.

DES DELISCHT

CHANDE

Reports for Enlightenment about Germany and the War.

Widest circulation requested.

England and the neutral merchant marine. From the beginning, the English government has incessantly declared that she is nut waging war for selfish purposes, but in the interests of the small neutral countries. How much truth there is in this, is demostrated by lier treatment of these same neutral countries. The English re- gulations concerning war contraband were intended to injure German commerce through neutral countries, by preventing the transporta- tion of German productions on neutral ships. England's design was the ruin of Germany, at the expense of the neutral states, ostensibly under England's protection. At the beginning of the war, in order to ac- tcomplish her ends, which were by no means unselfish, she had all neutral ships on the high seas searched for contraland. Th activity of the German flect, particularly of the sub-marines, was great menace to the British fleet Therefore England required all neutral ships, in the supposed interest of their own safety, to Tun into the harbous of Falmouth, Lough Swilly and Kirkwall, there to be searched for contraband. In other words England comman- ded all neutral countries to protect the British fleet and to accept with- out further ado her views of marine law. The entire North Sea was finally declared to be in war-zone and, therefore, closed.

This blockade of the North Sea, was to all appearances for the safety of the neutrals, but is in reality against Germany, Technically It does not in the least alter the situation. It is practically impossible to block the Northern entrance of the North Sea, or, in fact to shut off entirely by mines, nor would this be a protection to neutral alips. for nowhere are they safer from mines, than on the course to the North of England, if they avoid approaching the English coast. On the other hand the course through the Channel, now recorn- mended by the British admirality is thoroughly unsafe. The incapa city of the British fleet to block the German sea-ports on the North and Baltic Seas is evident, as uninterrupted traffic continues in quite

• number of them. Nor has the English fleet, during the entire period of the war made such an attempt. What is now being done is nothing more or less than a blockage of the entire Atlantic Ocean

in order to paralier the navigation of all neutral states in America and in Europe, Britial cruisers before New York are actively engaged E

420