The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-08-25
ENGLAND AND CoNTRABAND
- fsONns

GOODS.
England. It Is now said, has delivered
to Russia what ia In erect an nlti-
matum upon Russia's policy touching
contraband of war. The seizure In the
RED Sea Of the Maiacca. of the PEN
insula and Oriental line. by a mer-
chantman converted into cruiser and
tho sinking Of the knight Commander
by the vladivostok squadron are to
constitute the two cases on which
England's contentious will hinge.
The extreme sensitiveness Of Eng
land to the interruption of the suez
Canal trafic can best be understood
by looking at an every week's-end &C.
currence on the French and Italian
Railways extending from Calais in
France. to Brundusium in Italy. On
that day the Indian mail from Lon
don crosses the continent making for
Brunduseum, there to be placed aboard
an Oriental liner that steams away
southwark for her distant port In the
British Asiatie- Empire. That mail by
a special arrangement has the right of
way In France ana, Isslysson Saturday
and all trains that might delay or him
der this privileged budget Of dispatch
es. letters and papers. are set to rest
alongside the main track while Eng
lands imperial newsbags go speeding
TO Brundusium. India is the source of
England's supreme anxiety. 1t Is there
that she is most apprehensive for her
power. and she is instant in protect
ing and guarding her rule. Russia's
seizures, showing an ability to use the
Black Sea as a naval base has alarmed
and angered the British people. for
they find the chosen route to India i'm
perilled.
There will hardly be a war, though.
Putting aside the Black Sea problem.
the shaking UP that recent incident
has given the doctrine of contraband
trade may result in some general in
ternational conference at which the
whole question will be gone over and
an attempt made to arrive at definite
principles to govern traffic between
neutrals and belligerents. 1t Is not to
be expected that such a body can agree
about all outstanding questions. for In
the very nature of things with the
growth of science and industry no
hard and fast definitions will hold good
for all time. What is contraband to-
day may be in all fairness innocent
tomorrow and vice versa.
The one fact that constantly grows
clearer is that with the enormous de-
velopment of modern commerce, there
Is a growing disposition on the part
of ileutrals to resent Interference with
their seagoing trade by states at war.
Peace has her victories no less re-
nowned than war. and peace has rights
no less deserving respect than those of
war In spite of the vast military
ornaments that distinguish the world
at present, the worlds natural condi-
ton and its happiest is at peace. The
United States declined to subscribe to
the Treaty of Paris in 1856 because
it contained no declaration to the eff
feet that all private property at sea
whether in neutral or enemy bottoms.
not distinctly contraband of war,
should be protected against seizure and
confiscation.
The time may come when civilized
nations who come to blows will con-
sent that their peaceably disposed
n.ighbors may prosecute their accepted
ways of making livings without any
interference whatsoever by a combat
ant except and in the sole instance.
where the goods sought to be conveyed
and sold at a port of the other COM
Blatant bear unequivocal marks of be-
ing munitions of war. 1t ought to be
| added that Englands pride in her ma
val supremacy and her. obstinacy have
been the principal obstacles in the past
to the adoption of more enlightened
rules for the control of neutral trade.
With the rapid growth of ornaments
| in other countries and her own recent
disturbing experiences in the Red Sea
and the Pacific, England will very like
| ly be found more amenable to sugges-
f1ions that have as an object the re-
| striction in every possible way of the
injuries that are inflicted by war.