The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-13
SEATTLE, SATURDAY, JANUARY IS.
No international Complications.

No International Complications.
The admission by Great Britain that
food supplies are not contraband Of war
unless consigned to a hostile destination
for the actual use OF the enemy's forces,
and the assurance that all damages sus-
tanned by American or other merchants
through improper seizures will be paid.
Is exactly what every rational person
expected. There has never been occa-
sion for moments worry or excite
ment about it. Were it not for those
frantic persons who are never happy
unless they are flashing the public into
frenzy, and for whom the whole duty
of man consists in issuing protests and
demanding Investigations before facts
come to light, there would not have
been even as much talk on the subject
as there has.
International law relative to contra
band of war is exceedingly plain. The
definition Of contraband of war is not.
1t varies under different circumstances,
and the Interpretation OF it ID more or
less matter of agreement and usage.
1t was obvious from the beginning that
England could not hold food stuffs In
transit to South Africa to be contra
band Of war, and indulge IN unlimited
searches. seizures and. considerations.
for two reasons That policy would
hold for. her a grave future and grav-
er present danger. Great Britain de-
ponds upon sources outside Of herself
for her food supplies. II she should
become involved In war with a Euro
pean power. she could not afford to be
committed to doctrine that would in
sure her own starvation Neither could
she afford at this moment to take a
stand that would involve her in serious
dispute with other great powers and
threaten unfriendly relations with Ger
many and the United States immedi-
atelv.
This is the view taken by calm minds
in all countries and justified by the re-
cent declaration of the British govern
ment. Because 1t was sure to be so ad-
mitted, our own authorities have con-
tented themselves with making the rep
reservations whose justice is admitted
freely by the English ministry Ger
many took the matter more seriously,
for two reasons. William Is an excit-
able and spectacular person. who omits
no opportunity to strike pose as the
divinely constituted protector of the
Fatherland. And William has a naval
bill which he wants the representatives
Of the people to approve without cutting
down the appropriation. Nothing is so
effective in loosening purse strings as
little war scare; and if one can hint that
a foreign power has already begun ag-
gressions which can be repealed only by
a display of force, the sticklers for
economy are silenced by the clamor for
defense Of the national honor. In no
quarter of the world has there been
any apprehension that Great Britain
would announce or enforce any strange
or repugnant doctrine as to contrahand
of war. 1t was sufficient reason that
she could not afford to.
The position of the British govern
ment in its correspondence with our
department of state is eminently salts
factory to us. because 1t admits the
American contention throughout. Food
stuffs in transit to a country with which
England is at war are considered con-
traband only when it can be shown that
they are sent as actual supplies for the
enemy's forces. AS to the facts in the
specific cases of vessels that have been
apprehended, 1t Is admitted by Great
Britain that there was no contraband
of war on board of any Of them with
single exception. That case is now un-