The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-15
THE RIGHTS OF NEUTRALs.

RUSSIAN PRODUCE IN NEUTRAL SHIPS.
The following reply from Lord Clarendon has this day
been received at the Baltic Coffee House. by the doputa
ton of Russia merchants which waited upon his lordshp
the subject of Russian produce in neutral shps on
the goth inst
Sri directed by the Earl Of Clarendon to state to
you that since his lodshp had the pleasure of seeing
the Goth nst the deputaton of merchants connected
with the trade with Russia his lordshp has further
sidered the questions put to him by the deputation,
whether Russian produce brought the frontier by
land and shipped from thence by British neutral
sells will be subject to seizure by her Maesys cruisers
and to subsequent c0nscation in the High Court Of Ad
miralty.
Lord Clarendon conceves that the question will turn
upon the true ownership the interest risk in and
tie destination Of the property which may he seized
captured; and that neither the place of its origin
the manner Of its conveyance to the port from it
was shipped, will be decisive even in most cases. of
any real Importance.
Such property if shipped at neutral risk or after it
has bona de neutral property will not be liable
to condemnation, whatever may be its destination II
i should still remain encmys property Notwithstanding
II IL shipped from neutral port, and in neutral ship,
ID will be condemned whatever may be its destination
it be British property shipped at British risk 1t
will be condemned lift Is proved to DO really engaged in
trade with the enemy but not otherwise The place Of
its origin will be immaterial, and If thsre has been
owa tide and complete transfer Of ownership neutral
Gas by purchase in the neutral market the goods will
not be liable to condemnation notwithstanding they may
have come to that neutral market from the enemy's
country, either overland or by Lord Clarendon has
however to observe that circumstances Of reasonable
suspicion will justify capture although release and not
condemnation, may Follow ana that ships with cargoes
of Russian produce may not improbay be considered,
under certain circumstances liable to capture
though not liable to condemnation
am, sir, your very obedient servant,
H. u. ADDINGTON
Foreign Office, March Is, 1854.
from the London Gazette, March 20
We published yesterday tho Official statement of what
the Foreign Secretary of State intends TO be the rule to
be pursued In the which has been at last declared
but gives little practical information to the mercantile
community Of which il not previously possessed
If undo, stand the law laid By Lord Claren
DON enemys produce IL shipped at nestrai risk, a
ter IL has become bona dc neutral property, will not >e
liable TO condemnation, whatever may be its dcst
ton But IL it he British property shipped al Britain
risk il will be condemned IL il is proved TO b, really
gagged in trade with the enemy but not Other xise.
This certainly not very clear information for
tile gudance II lays down general rule, and tie
clusion Is that every will have TO be dccideon is
specific merits before Admiralty Courts. 1t
was 80 iast war, and there many merchlr3s living
who viii remember the expense, delay and annoyancs
with which such proceedings were attended, THO
Foreign Secretary appears to have taken to his guild
Vages' claw OF Nations" but VIC cannot say that he
has been very successful in his commentary upon tao old
author lord Clarendon further lays dswu tho Paw tc
be- according 70 hs reading and exposition oft, pat
my produce m should still remain enemy property
notwithstanding IL Is shipped from neutral port and in
neutral ship it viii be condemned whaeover may be Ia
detinatcDn Perhaps IL may DO OF use 70 remind Lore
Clarendon that this oil the OF the last
hewepn England md the United e.a,cs Of America snt
IL V our bsiss thss tes sav ysyalation DO had 70