The papers of Tuesday published the Order in Council which
gives effect to Mr. Asquith's statement of March 1st as to our retaliatory measures against the criminal German submarine campaign. The general meaning of the Order is that nothing whatever is to enter or leave German ports by sea. We notice, however, that in the case of German trade through neutral ports by means of neutral ships it is said that our ships "may" hold up such trade. Since the pro- mulgation of the Order Sir Edward Grey has emphasized the intention of the Government to conduct the blockade with all the leniency that may be compatible with its general object. Certainly the Order provides for a state of affairs less stringent than an ordinary blockade. We trust it will be noted in the United States that the rules are as considerate as they possibly can be in the circumstances—certainly more lenient than they would be in the regulation" blockade" which the United States seemed at first to desire. We have written on the whole subject elsewhere.
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