File No. 763.72112/3385
The Consul General at London ( Skinner ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10 a.m.]
Order in council, March 11, 1915, modified by proclamation dated 16th, promulgated 21st [as] new order, after reciting that German memorandum declaring that after February 1 neutral ships will navigate certain zones at their risk and similar directions by other enemy powers are in flagrant contradiction with rules of international law and treaty obligations of enemy and, therefore, renders it necessary to adopt further measures to prevent commodities from reaching or leaving enemy countries, announces that from and after February 16:
- 1.
- A vessel which is encountered at sea on her way to or from a port in any neutral country afforded means of access to the enemy territory without calling at a port in British or Allied territory shall until the contrary is established be deemed to be carrying goods with an enemy destination or of enemy origin and shall be brought in for examination and if necessary for adjudication before the prize court.
- 2.
- Any vessel carrying goods with an enemy destination or of enemy origin shall be liable to capture and condemnation in respect of the carriage of such goods provided that in the case of any vessel which calls at an appointed British or Allied port for the examination of her cargo no sentence of condemnation shall be pronounced in respect only of the carriage of goods of enemy origin or destination and no such presumption as is laid down in Article J shall arise.
- 3.
- Goods which are found on the examination of any vessel to be goods of enemy origin or of enemy destination shall be liable to condemnation.
- 4.
- Nothing in this order shall be deemed to affect the liability of any vessel or goods to capture or condemnation independently of this order.
- 5.
- This order is supplemental to the orders in council of the 11th day of March, 1915, and the 10th day of January, 1917, for restricting the commerce of the enemy.