The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-12
May Lead to International Agreement. Baltimore Sun.

May Lead to International Agreement Baltimore Sun.
 It is significant that nearly two
 months ago Secretary of State Hay, in a note to American Ambassadors in Flu rope. dissented from the Russian Gov ernment's declaration respecting con- traband of war. Russia, it appears, in- cluded coal and other fuel and raw cot ton among the articles defined as con- traband. To this the United States Government does not assent. Its posi- tion, as outlined by Secretary Hay, Is as follows:
 The recognition in principle of the treatment of coal and other fuel and
 raw cotton as absolutely contraband of war might ultimately lead to a total inhibition of the sale by neutrals to the people of bel1igerent States of all articles which could be finally con- verted to military uses. Such an ex- tension of the principle by treating coal and other fuel and raw cotton as abso- lutely contraband of war simply be-
 cause they are shipped by a neutral to n-blockaded port of a belligerent would not appear to be in accord with the reasonable and lawful rights of a neutral commerce"
 Our Southern States have a practical interest In this question. Japan buys raw cotton from the planters of Dixie and manufactures it into cloth in her own mills Perhaps some of this cot ton Is now used for military purposes;
 Tor instance, in the manufacture of explosives. Shall there be total in hibftion of this trade? Evidently it is not the intention of our Government to accept Russia's contention on this point It is equally clear that the British view coincides with that of the Washington Government. Japan im- ports cotton from British possessions
 as well as from the United States.
 Great Britain does not intend to lose this trade if it can be retained by in-
 ducing the Russian Government to
 modify It's declaration regarding con- tra band.
 MT. Hay. In his note. speaks of the
 reasonable and lawful right of a neu-
 tral commerce" Unfortunately the law Of nations Is not as explicit as 1t
 might be. BelligSrents are wont to
 make rules to suit themselves, and con- sequently there Is no such thing as
 uniformity in practice or even in the ory. Perhaps one result of the pres
 ent war in the Orient may be an in
 ternational congress to establish as far as possible fixed rules in regard to con
 traband and the rights of neutral com
 merce. Great industrial and trading
 nations like the United States. Ger.
 many and England cannot view with
 indinerence any serious Interruption of
 their commercial relations with na-
 tlons which are among their best cus- toners. The American farmer and nearly every important market in the world. The German and British man uIacturers are engaged in sharp com petition with Americans for foreign
 trade Any war in which a strong na- val power might be engaged would be disastrous to their commerce if the
 rules of contraband were made as drastic as those which the Russian government has contemplated enforc-
 ing; Hence it would appear that the
 exigene1es of trade may compel some
 curtailment of what have long been considered the inafienable rights of bel ligerents. '- 'ei-
 Trade and industry are probably tho
 determining factors in the world today. entering far more deeply into dipIo,
 macy than is generally imagined. The
 war between Russia and Japan is due
 principally to economic causes. Whi1e
 some powers may consider it necessary
 to make war to accomplish their eco homie destiny, other powers may find
 IL necessary to amend, the rules of war
 sT .nat their interests may not suffer
 WhiIe there Is conflict in any nuar
 re rer r s or the globe; An international ar
 rights of belligerents and neutraIs vii
 probably be the outcome of Russia's in
 terterence with foreign commerce in
 the present war. III