The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-08-05
MUST RESPECT SHIPPING
A Conference of Powers to
Curb Russia.

Washington, July 30-It is under,
stood that Il movement has been start
ed in this city looking toward a confer
ence of the powers With respect to the
tights of shipping on the high seas in
time Of war, an! also to define, If pos
sible, exactly what contraband of war
is. These questions have been actively
discussed among the powers since the
civil war, and have come up in one
form or another in every way since
that time, until now the unusual ac
ton of the Russian government toward
neutral shipping has moved the state
department to the belief that the time
has come when an international con-
ference and agreement on these mat
tiers might serve to protect the peace
of the world. No definite thing has
been done as yet. so far as can be
learned, toward calling a conference,
but such move is expected presently.
Thomas S. and S. G. Hopkins of this
city are counsel for the American
Trading company and also for Howard
Houder, Rowat & Co, who are the
charterers of the Knight Commander,
which has been sunk by the Russians
off the Japanese coast.
May Make No Claim.
GAS yet we are not at all sure that
we shall make any claim" said Mr..
Hopkins today. Howard Houder,
Rowat & Co. are common carriers OPP
Grating a regular line between New
York and far eastern ports, and as
such may be responsible to shippers,
| who would have recourse possibly
against them or else against those who
destroyed the cargo. The American
Trading company, which we also rep
resent, has no interest in the case ye-
| You'd being consgneeS of the ship it.
self at Yokohama. The vessel must be
| consigned to somebody who will be re-
sponsible for export due. but this COM
pany owns little or none of the cargo
itself. This was miscellaneous in its
| character and its owners probably con-
signed their goods in many cases ito
| order" In that case American owners
would retain their title to the goods I'M
| til final arrangements as to sale We're
| made, and hence We're owners at the
time of the destruction of the ship
They would naturally have recourse
against Russia since Russia destroyed
their property. The fact that it was
under the British flag does not alter
the case. 1t Is as if the cargo had beer
| taken out of the ship and turned ovel
to Russian use.
Presidents Are Favorable.
I'VE are following the course taker
in the Mashona, Maria and Beatrice
cases, ships which We're seized by the
British off the American coast. Not.
| WllIlStdHulllB TIE american goods WERE
covered by the British flag, theil
whole value was recovered from tho
British government. This wasSgrantec
on the theory that the goods were no
| contra band and We're not subject t
| confiScation.
I'VE further take the position tina
the destruction of the Knight Com
mander was entirely unWarranted un
der international law, because it wa
the duty Of the commander Of the Rus
sian squadron to send 1t to the neares
prize port; he cannot constitute him
self a prize court, and cannot properl,
determine whether goods are subjec
to forfeiture or not. Even if the good
were subject to forfeiture, that doe
not imply that the vessel was subiec
to distinctions"