New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-16
PRIVILEGES OF NEUTRALS.
AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE TAKEN BY GER
MANY IN STOPPING SHIPMENTS OF ARMS.


Washington. Jan. 10 (specaD-The recent ca
bic dispatch from Berlin stating that the Ger
man Government has decided that it is not com
patible with the observance Of strict neutrality
for Germany to permit its subjects to send war
materials from that country either to Great
Britain or the Transvaal, and that the Krupp
company had been directed to stop any in
tended shipments Of arms, guns ammunition or
other munitions of TO either beIligerent, is
regarded here as indicating unusual zeal on the
part of the German Government Such posi-
ton is not often assumed by neutral govern
ments, it is true. On the other hand however,
it is admitted to be a justifable act of retalia-
ton for the seizure aid detention Of German
vessels on the nigh seas.
The rule of international law is that neutrals
in their own country may sell TO beligerents
whatever beHigerents choose to buy. Neutrals
may also carry to the belligerent Powers con-
traband articles subject TO the right Of seiz-
ure in transitu The position assumed by the
United States IN regard TO this matter is in
dicated by numerous presidents collected in
Wharton's International Law Digest.
Mr.. Jefferson when Secretary of State said:
Our citizens have always been free to make, vend
ve9doi of some Of them To spn2esg tbr c sp
ings the only means perhaps * their subsistence.
tries in which We have no concern, would scarcely
be expected II would be hard in principle and
impossible in practice The law of nations, there
fore respecting the rights of those at peace does
not require from them such internal derange-
nent in their occupations. 1t is satisfied with the
external penalty Of confscaton of such portions of
these shall fall into the hands of the bel
Ngerent powers on their way TO the ports of their
enemies.
Secretary Marcy said:
1t is certainly a novel doctrine of international
law that traffic by citizens or subjects of a
tral Power with belligerents, though 1t should be
IN arms ammunition and warlike stores. M
promises the neutrality of that Power.
Secretary Frelinghuysen said:
Munitions of war are legitimate element Of
commerce. to the citizens Of the United States, a
neutral Power, with either of the beigerents in
time of war in the same manner and TO the same
extent as they would be in time of peace and
afford ground for the interference of the execu
i've onlcers OF the United States.
Wharton says that if the sale Of munitions NJ
war is to be held breach Of neutrality. then.
instantly upon the declaration of war between
two bellgerents, not only the traffic by sea of
ali the rest Of the neutral Powers of the world
would be exposed to inconvenience. but the
whole inland trade Of every nation of the earth
would be cast into letters II would give to the
OF neutral commerce, till at last the burden
would be so enormous that neutrality itself
would become more intOlerabIe than war. For
not only the vender Of iron would have to be
prevented from selling to the vender of the gun
but the miner and machinist would have 10 he
iron neutral sovereign therefore. would have
either to stop all machinery by which munitions
OF war could be produced for belligerent use or
expose himself to call for whatever damages
his failure 70 do so might have caused either
belligerent