<P> The British--with their overwhelming sea power--established a naval blockade of Germany immediately on the outbreak of war in August 1914, issuing a comprehensive list of contraband that all but prohibited American trade with the Central powers, and in early November 1914 declared the North Sea to be a War Zone, with any ships entering the North Sea doing so at their own risk . The blockade was unusually restrictive in that even foodstuffs were considered "contraband of war". There were complaints about breaches of international law, however most neutral merchant vessels agreed to dock at British ports to be inspected and then escorted--less any "illegal" cargo destined for Germany--through the British minefields to their destinations . </P> <P> The Northern Patrol and Dover Patrol closed off access to the North Sea and the English Channel respectively . </P> <P> The Germans regarded this as an illegal attempt to starve the German people into submission and wanted to retaliate in kind . </P> <P> The blockade hurt American exports . economy . Under pressure especially from commercial interests wishing to profit from wartime trade with both sides, Washington government protested vigorously . Britain did not wish to antagonize the U.S. It set up a program to buy American cotton, guaranteeing the price stayed above peacetime levels and mollifying cotton planners . when American ships were stopped with contraband, the British purchased the entire cargo, and released the empty ship . </P>

In 1914 through 1915 the united states responded to a british naval blockade of germany by