THE BLOCKADE OF THE MENAM

Sir,--Upon many questions of fact and of policy involved in the quarrel
between France and Siam it may be premature as yet to expect explicit
information from the French Government; but there should not be a
moment's doubt as to the meaning of the blockade which has probably by
this time been established.

Is France at war with Siam? This may well be the case, according to
modern practice, without any formal declaration of war; and it is, for
international purposes, immaterial whether the French Cabinet, if it has
commenced a war without the sanction of the Chambers, has or has not
thereby violated the French Constitution. If there is a war, and if the
blockade, being effective, has been duly notified to the neutral Powers,
the vessels of those Powers are, of course, liable to be visited, and,
if found to be engaged in breach of the blockade, to be dealt with by
the French Prize Courts.

Or is France still at peace with Siam, and merely putting upon her that
form of pressure which is known as "pacific blockade"?

In this case, since there is no belligerency there is no neutrality, and
the ships of States other than that to which the pressure is being
applied are not liable to be interfered with. The particular mode of
applying pressure without going to war known as "pacific blockade"
dates, as is well known, only from 1827. It has indeed been enforced, by
England as well as by France, upon several occasions, against the
vessels of third Powers; but this practice has always been protested
against, especially by French jurists, as an unwarrantable interference