New-York tribune., 1909-03-22
SEA WAR RIGHTS FIXED
BENEFITS FOR AMERICA
IN AGREEMENT.
Mason and SHdeH Case Recalled
Contraband Defined at Length
Nations to Adhere.

Washington March 21.-The declaration of
principles regarding the law of maritime war
agreed on by the conference Of ten of the prin-
cpal maritime nations of the world, recently
held in London and known the international
naval conference. was made public at the state
Department to-day. Probably the most interest
ing features from the American point of view
are the declarations regarding what constitutes
conditional contraband and what is free of con-
traband. Many of the declarations had not been
previously made public
The principles enunciated in the declaration
to act guide for the international prize
court to be tablished at The Hague. They are
regarded as of great Importance and mark
decided step forward in the establishment OF
code for naval warfare The American dele
gates. previously reported. are satshed WlIh
the code. which contains much that will prove
of great advantage to American commerce III
time of war. This is especially the case with
the articles treating of contraband, the estimate
being made that under the head of conditional
contraband exports approximating at this time
5000 100000 year would be affected in the
event war and under the head of free OF con-
traband exports approXimating $4oooc0Vo
The essence of the declaration on blockade Is
that it must be confined to the ports and coasts
belonging to or occupied by the enemy. and thae
the blockade, in order to be binding must pe
effective. The Anglo-American doctrine OF no
tIce of blockade was adopted as against the
Continental This is that notice through dlpio-
matte channels of the establishment of such
blockade is sufficient
AN ECHO OF THE TRENT CASE.
Article A. provides that any person belonging
TO the armed forces of the enemy and found on
board a neutral war vessel may be made prls-
oner of war. even though there be no ground TOT
seizinr the vessel This principle conforms with
the attitude taken by the United States IN tne
famous Mason and Sden case during the CiVh
War when these men were taken from the
British steamer Trent
To meet the situation arising during the Rus
so-Japanese War when neutral vessels were
seized by the Russians and were sunk on the
high seas because the latter had no nearby
ports TO which to take them, the conference de-
clared in Article As that neutral vessel when
has been seized cannot be destroyed by the cap
tor but must be conducted into the proper port
in order that the validity Of the capture may be
decided AS an exception to this rule II is de
clared that a neutral vessel seized by a hellig-
erent and subject TO conhscaton may be de-
stroyed II the observance OF Article ~ might
jeopardize the safety OF the war vessel or the
success of the operations in which the latter is
actually engaged.
The transfer OF a hostile vessel 10 a neutral
nag when it takes place before the beginning
Of hostilities shall be valid unless II be proved
that the transfer was made for the purpose Of
escaping the consequences which would have
followed because the vessel belonged to the en-
emy.
COMPROMISE on CONTINUOUS VOYAGE.
a compromise reached in the matter of
the doctrine Of continuous voyage. ali parties
the Angola American doctrine that the ultimate
destination of the contraband shall determine
whether such cargo is subject to seizure as con
traband is retained in the case of absolute con
traband, but is given up in the case of condi-
tionai contraband
On the question of contraband the conference
adopted three Observation-Disclosures condi-
tional and not contraband. Absolute contraband
includes generally articles ard implements Of
war and those which may be used in war
Conditional contraband includes food supplies
fodder and grain. clothing suitable for military
use. gold and silver. coined and in bars. and
paper representing money; airshps and flying
machines, fuel. lubricants, powders and explo-
sives not specially designed for war use, barbed
wire. horseshoes and shoeing outfits
The following articles cannot be declared con-
traband Of Raw cotton, raw wool silk
jute. fax. hemp and other materials OF
textile industries, as well as fabrlCS woven
therefrom: oeaginous nuts and seeds copra
india rubber. resins. gums and lac. hops raw
hides horns, bone and ivory; natural and arti-
fetal fertilizers. comprising nitrates and phos-
pilates susceptible Of in agriculture: ores
earths, clays lime, chalk and stone. including
marble brick. slate and tile, chinaware and
glassware. paper and substances for its manu-
facture; soaps, paints, including substances in
tended solely for their preparation. and var
nishes: hypOchloride of lime: soda ash: caustic
soda sulphate of soda in cakes ammonia sui
phate of ammonia and sulphate Of copper: ma
chinery used in agriculture. mines textile in
dustries and printing; precious stones. fine
stones pearls, mother OF pearl and coral clocks
and watches. except chronOmeters; millinery
and fancy articles; feathers of all kinds: horse
hair and br!stles: articles of furniture and or
nament and office furniture and accessories