Mr. White to Mr. Hay.
London, December 18, 1902.
(Mr. White reports that the prime minister stated yesterday in the House of Commons that he agrees with the United States in thinking “there can be no such thing as a pacific blockade,” and that “evidently a blockade does involve a state of war,” and added that “all the conditions governing such a blockade have been drawn up and will be published in due time for the information of neutrals;” also, that “the Government are most anxious that these operations shall be as little inconvenient to neutral powers as they can possibly be made.” He furthermore said, in reply to a question, “Has war been declared?” “Does the honorable and learned gentleman suppose that without a state of war you can take the ships of another power and blockade its ports?”)