NAVAL BLOCKADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 266, 22 August 1936, Page 5

NAVAL BLOCKADE.

CONSIDERATION IN LONDON. POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW LONDON, August 21. The Spanish Government’s action in declaring a blockade over certain areas of the Spanish and Moroccan coasts which are in the hands of the insurgents is being carefully considered in London, says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Morning Post.” The practice ill international law is that if a blockade is to be permissible it must first be effective, and

second, the party against whom it is aimed must be’ belligerent. So far the Spanish Government has not recognised the insurgents as belligerents, while it is doubted whether it has sufficient ships to enforce the blockadeThe situation would he immediately changed if the’ Spanish Government decided to recognise the insurgents as belligerents, because this would facilitate intervention by other countries, a development which the British Government is trying to prevent.