Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-27

to me. as you said there seemed to be
doubts in certain quarters in this coun-
try as to the attitude of my govern
ment.
Grey. in which he authorizes me to give
the assurance that cotton will not be
seized. He points out that cotton has
not been put in any of our lists of con-
traband, and. as your department must
be aware from the draft proclamation
posed to include it in our new list OF
contrahand. 1t is, therefore. as far as
Great Britain is concerned, in the free
list and will remain there.
Question of Contraband.
In the second note the ambassador
says:
With reference to the case of the
Rockefeller ] think it would be OPP
perfume were l to make some remarks
on the general question of contra nd
and the attitude of the British govern
ment.
You are doubtless aware that in the
last few weeks there has been a mark
ed increase of the export of certain
articles. as compared with previous
years. to those neutral COUNTRIES viii I'll
are in direct communication with the
beiiigerent nations. Will choose
among many. the single instance OF
mineral oils. and the returns for the
month of September. Whereas the
values of United States exports of the
principal articles for that month as
compared with September, 1913, have
decreased from 100 to seventy-four mil
lion dollars, or 80 per cent, the ex-
port of gasoline naphtha, etc. has in
creased from twenty to twenty-three
million gallons. or Is per cent and of
fuel oil from thirty-siX to fifty eight
millions of gallons, or 81 per cent
Refers to Oil Exports.
Il need not point out that the course
of the present war has shown the i'm
mense Importance of the motor. the
airship and the submarine all of which
are consumers of mineral oil I may
add that there is reason to believe
that mineral oil in all its forms may
be used for these purposes. A large
proportion of the exports of this coun-
try has been consigned to neutral
ports and. according to evidence in our
possession. has been transmitted from
them to belligerent country. AS you
ara aware, the Supreme Court of the
United States in 1863 considered YES
sells as carrying contraband, although
sailing from one neutral port to an
other. if the goods concerned were
destined to be transported b. land or
sea from the neutral port of landing
into enemy territory. 1t then decided
that the character of the goods is de-
termined by their ultimate and not
their immediate destination, and this
doctrine was at the time acQuiesced In
by Great Britain, though her own trade
was the chief sufferer.
Neutral Countries Active.
ION the other hand. the neural coun-
tries concerned. who are anxious in the
interests of their neutrality to avoid
being used as bases for hostillities by
either belligerent, are now making ar
engagements which will give sure guar
antees that articles which may be used
in war shall not be re-exported. In a
word, they are anxious to prevent their
ports from becoming the back door of
either belligerent When these ar
rangements are complete it is to be
confidently hoped that trade between
neutrals will be subject to little or no
hindrance.
But it is. of course, essential. in the
interests of free and undisturbed trade
between neutrals, that every security
possible should be provided in order to
enable belligerents to form speedy
and sure judgment as to the neutral
destination of goods which may be
used for peaceful or warlike purposes.
Detention Of Rockefeller.
I'm the case Of the Rockefeller. which
was bound for a port in the near
neighborhood of the chief naval port
of a belligerent, the oil she carried
was consigned to order, and there was
therefore no guarantee that it would
not be forwarded to the enemy. She
was, accordingly, detained until proof
was afforded of the neutral destination
of her cargo and the intention of the
neutral government to prevent re-ex-
port.
ut is to be hoped that for the future
adequate precautions will be taken in
order to show the real destination of
goods consigned to neutrals, which. if
transshipped to a belligerent. might
be used for belligerent purposes.
II may observe in conclusion that al
though the British government has
detained cargoes of contraband in or
der to make sure that they are really
intended for neutral countries, and
has retained some cargoes, such as cop
per. destined for Krupps' ammunition
works. it has not yet taken single
cargo without paying for it, and has
allowed every cargo really destined
for neutral countries to proceed to its
destination
M slruarNnIR ar AaAgYrs