The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-11
COAL AND OTHER FUEL5AND RAW
4 coTToN-THls DECLARATION
MADE BY SECRETARY HAY, ass
WHO SAYS REcoGNlTIoN
IN PRINCIPLE OF TREAT
MENTsoFS CERTAIN
AS coNTRABAND
OF WAR MIGHT LEAD TO "a
z&s TOTAL INHIBITION OF SALE sa.
BY NEUTRALS TO BELLtG
ERENTs NATIONS OF
MANY NECESSARY
ARTICLES.

i gWASHINGTON, d. c.. Aug. TO-
The recognition in principle of the
j treatment of coal and other fuel and
Eraw cotton as absolutely contraband
i inhibition of the sale by neutra1s to
the people OF belligerent 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 absolutely contraband of war. sim
ply because they are shipped by n
neutral to nonbloclladed port OF a
belligerent, would not appear to be
| in accord with the reasonable and law
| full rights Of neutral commerce.
This is summary of declaration
by Secretary Hay on the right of neu-
trail nations during war. It was en-
bodied In a circular to American am
bassadors to Europe which was issued
from the State Department June 10
last. but for some reason was with
held from the public. although certain
shippers who inquired at the depart
ment after their right were supplied
with copies. The circular is based on.
a declaration by the Russian govern
ment that coal, napthn. alcohol and
other fuel have been declared contra
band.
When Russia Dissented.
Secretary Hay directs attention to
the West African Conference in 1884.
when Russia took occasion to dis
sent vigorously from the inclusion of
coal among articles contrabaud of
war, and declared that she would cate.
gorically refuse her consent to any ar
ticles in any treaty, convention or in
strument whatever which would i'm
ply its recognition as such .
Due note Is made of the fact that
raw cotton could be made up into
clothing for the military uses OF a bell
ligerent, but the secretary adds that
a military use for the supply of an
army or garrison might possibly be
made for foodstuffss of every descrip-
ton which might be. shipped from neu-
trail ports to the nonblockaded ports
of a belligerent THE principle un-
der consideration might, therefore,"
he says. . be extended SO as to apply
to every article Of human use, which
might be declared contraband of war,
simply because 1t might ultimately be-
come in any degree useful to bel
ligerent for military purposes"
For Innocent Purposes.
The Secretary speaks of coal and
other fuel and cotton as being employ
ed for a great many innocent pur-
poses, and that many nations are de-
pendent on them for the conduct of
incffensive Industries, adding:
4 and no sufficient presumption OF
an intended warlike use seems to be
afforded by the mere fact Of their
destination to belligerent port"
He declares that the recognition in
principle Of the treatment of coal and
other fuel and raw cotton as absolute
~ central band of war might ultimate
ly lead to a total inhibition of the
sale by neutrals to the people of bell |
liser&nt states Of all articles which
could be finally converted to military
uses. This. the Secretary contends.
would not appear to be in accord with
the reasonable and lawful rights of |
Text of Circular.
The text OF this important circular
is as follows:
Neutral commerce il articles condi-
tiohally contraband of war. .s
S ss$55 Department of State,
Washington, June 10, 1909.
TO thes Ambassadors of the United
& States in Europe:
Gentlemen-It appears from public
documents that coal, naptha, alcohol
and other fuel have been declared
contrabsnd of war by the Russian gov
3 These articles enter into general +.
in the arts of peace. to
which they are vitality necessary. +.
They are usually treated not as alb
solutely contraband Of war" like ar
,icles that are intended primarily for
purposes in time of war. such:
IS: ordnance, arms, ammunition, etc.,
out rather as conditiona1ly CONTRA
oand that is to say, articles that
nay be used for or converted to the
OF war or peace. according
o circumstances. They may rather
,e classed with provisions and food