New Britain herald., 1914-08-05
BALDWIN COMMENTS
 ON EUROPEAN WAR
Governor Says Conflict VIII TtIn. pOraiIy Benefit United States.

New Haven, Conn, Aug. 5.-Gover- nor Simeon E. Baldwin, a former president of the International Law Association of London, England and Of the American Society for the Judi clal Settlement of International Dis putes, said today of the war situation:
 II think the general war in Europe is likely to be of considerable tenn porary benefit to this country; but ultimately it would probably detract from it's resources and perhaps for time being on serious business condi- tions.
 Have Commanding Position.
 We are now in position to com mand the carrying trade of the world. This we had, to considerable degree, during the European wars at the close of the eighteenth century and the be- ginning of the nineteenth. Our ships were then on every sea carrying other reop1e's goods. It is likely to be again.
 This means that we are likely to profit by the refusal of Europe to accede to the proposed American doc- Urine that private property should be free from capture at sea unless in cases of contraband of war and breach of blockade. England is probably in a position to declare an effective blockade of German ports. Should blockade be declared by any Of the great powers we should have repeated such scenes as occurred in southern waters during the Civil war when blockade running was frequent. No blockade of a great port can ever be perfectly hermetical
 Favorable to Neutrals.
 >"It is fortunate that the last Hague convention, with regard to mails was so favorable to the neu- trals, and for that matter, to bellig- erents also. This is the convention relative to certain restrictions with regard to the exercise of the right of capture in naval war and was rat flied by the United States in 1908. Chapter 1, article 1 and 2 provides:
 '' That all postal correspondence of neutrals or bellgerents, whether official or private, found on the high seas on board a neutral ship or an enemy's ship is inviolable, and shall be forwarded by the captor in case the ship is detained, with the least possible delay. This does not apply to cases of violating blockades or to letters to\ or from d blockaded port. Neutral mail ships are not to be searched, except VT :, absolutely nee. essary, and then with as much consideration anu ..li as possible
 Ratified in 1908.
 Another provision of Hague convention, which was also ratified by the United States in 1908, has some provisions, the force of which I ob- serve Germany does not deny with respect to neutral powers. This is the. convention respecting the rights and duties of neutral powers and per sons in case of war on land and pro- vides that the territory of neutral powers is inviolable and the belliger- ents are forbidden to move troops or conveys either of munitions of war or of supplies across the territory of a neutral power.
 Dispatches would seem to indicate that Germany frankly owns she has violated these provisions, but justi- fies it on the ground of military necessity. It is obvious, however, that the provisions of the convention were adopted to apply to just cases such as now have occurred So that : it must be a cause of regret to all friends of international peace that the