The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-08-04

clothing ana other articles for the
maintenance Of their people while the
fields are idle and the shops closed be-
cause men are needed at the front.
This is likely To be true. But much
OF such talk proceeds without reckon
ing the practice of nations with regard
to contraband and without perceiving
that European war is likely to de-
yelop such orders as to contraband as
greatly To minimize the expectation Of
American goods to the other side OF the
Atlantic.
Rules Are Confusing.
In all international law there is moth
ing more confusing than this question
Of cuntraband. Contraband goods are
| divided into two classes; absolute con-
traband and conditional contraband In
the first class belong munitions of war
and everything that can be used by a
! bclligerent army. In the second class
are included articles which are necessi-
ties OF life. 1t is the vagueness con-
corning conditional contraband which
| is most veXng 10 neutral countries.
John Bassett Moore, probably the
greatest living authority on interna-
| tiOnal law, points out that the detlni-
ton OF conditional contraband enables
a belligerent government to declare any
cargo Of foodstufrs conhscated even if
| ii Ice not consigned To an enemy gov
crnmcnt, but not if for private citizens.
On the other hand foodstulfs are con-
/ a.. "a Z nj b,r
tiles or to merchant established in
the enemys country when it is well
known that this merchant supplies ma
terial OF this kind to the enemy" or lis
destined to a fortified place serving as
base for the armed forces Of the
enemy"
AS Prof. Moore points out any mer-
chant established in the enemy's coun-
try will sell goods to the government.
Again, i'm this age Of railways any
place may serve as a base of supplying
the armed forces OF the enemy.
The truth OF the matter is that Meth
or in Washington nor anywhere else
can any definite advice be given on this
important, but bcwilderng subject.
An article by John Bassett Moore.
written in 1912, comes nearer to en-
tightening the reader than any opinion
that can be secured at the state de-
partment.
1T is the acknowledged right Of bel
lgerents," wrote Prof Moore, ito en-
deavor to subdue each other by attacks
upon persons and upon property. But
the rest of the world, composed of neu-
tral powers, having no part in the
quarrel and perhaps little concern in
the issue, also has its rights.
Defines Rights of Neutrals.
1T is acknowledged To he the right
Of neutrals to continue their commerce
with the belligerents, subject only to
the restrictions imposed by the law of
contraband and of blockade"
AS regards the shipping of goods
belonging To a belligerent ever since
the declaration of Paris in 1856 it has
been accepted that the neutral flax
covers the enemy's goods. with the ex-
ception of contraband of war"
In other words" says the professor,
the operation of this rule and the pro-
lection intended to be afforded by it are
wholly dependent upon the definition
OF contraband.
Since the war between Russia and
| Japan. the subject OF Contraband has
| been death with in the declaration of
| London, signed Feb. 26, 1909, by repre-
sentatives Of Germany, the United
| States, Austria Hungary, Spain, Italy,
| France Great Britain, Japan, the
Netherlands and Russia, with the OBJ
| jcct of laying flown rules OF maritime
law, embracing blockade contraband,
unneutral service, destruction OF neu-
| trail prizes, and various other subjects.
| FOR the government OF the internation-
al prize court which Germany propos-
| ed To the second peace conference at
The Hague, and for the constitution of
| which provision was made 10y the con-
vcntiOn signed on oct Is, 1907.
II has always been the humane and
| busiucsslike contention Of the United
states, from the time of the war be-
| tween France and Great Britain in
! 1913, that the prevalent position re-
garding contraband Of war was unjust
and unreasonable. That reason and
usage had established that, when two
nations went TO war, those who chose
TO live in peace retained their natural
right TO pursue their agriculture, man
| ufactures, and other ordinary voca-
| lions, and to carry the produce of their
industry, for exchange, to all nations,
belligerent or neutral, with the excep-
ton that they must not furnish imple-
ments Of war to the belligerents, or
| send anything TO a blockaded place.
Corn, -four and meal were not, said the
| United States. Of the class Of contra
band. and remained articles OF free
| commerce.
Powers Failed to Agree.
But hitherto all attempts to induce
the continental nations TO accept this
| moro nnliuhtpned doctrine have failed.