The United States and the Declaration of Paris

Abstract

There is a probability that the accession of the United States to the Declaration of Paris is shortly to be urged upon the Secretary of State. In such event the reasons favoring this action may well be worthy of our study. The articles of this important international compact, made in 1856, at the close of the Crimean War, were as follows: 1. Privateering is and remains abolished. 2. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war. 3. Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under enemy's flag. 4. Blockades in order to be binding must be effective, that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy.