The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-04
What Constitutes i
Central band ofIVar
SHIPPERS ARE WORRYING OVER
8 POSSIBLE EC0NFIsCATiON
OF CARGOES.

= q. - ! : =
|contraband of war Is causing the
greatest concern TO shippers, apd tile
perplexed state of the international
laws on the question Is making it DIFF
heult for steamship men toknow
when they are carrying a cargo that
Is reasonably safe from, confiscation,
In the event OF further declaration of
war in Europe. vi.
When the definition OF contraband
is elastic there is now an interna-
tional list Of articles which can new
or at any time be contraband.i The
most important Of these articles to
America is cotton, which heads the
list Of non-contraband goods. OF al
most equal Importance is the fact
that gold is on the conditional con
traband list. Gold becomes contra
band IL It is shipped to a nation in
yolyed in war. and is liablestos seizure
by shins of the enemy Of that coun-
try. 4. 3', 4 q a 1
Cotton was placed on the non con-
traband list at the London naval con-
ference, although itshad been treated
as ,contraband by, Russia during the
Russo Japanese war. While the Lon
don declaration has not been ratified
by allSnations, It is practically GER
tain, according to DR.. Ellery G.
Stowe, assistant professor OF interna-
tional law at Columbia University,
that its shipment would not be inter
fered with by any European nation
in case of aigeneralswar: 4
Absolute contraband, which Is al
ways liable TO seizure, consists oflwa
material, guns, ammunition, military
vehicles. etc. Other articles. except
THOSE on the non:contraband list,
may be- treated as contraband by q
beliigerent .afterlgiying notice to ,neu=
trail nations OF the articles which it
has gclassed as liable to seizure. q
When Grain Nav Be Seized.
& Conditional tcontraband is liablefto
seizure at no time except when 1t is
destined to the territory! Of an enemy,
and then It can be seized with as lit
tle{eeremony as if' 1t were actual war
material. Article IS fof the London
declaration is as follows: "a
conditional. contraband Is not liza
BILE to capture, except when found
en- board a vessel bound for territory
belonging to gor5 occupied by an enc
my or for the armed ofrces Of the
enemy, and when Il is not to he dis
charged at an intervening neutral
ports The ships papers are conclu-
siye proof both las To- tile voyage in
which the vessel is engaged and as
TO the port Of discharge of the goods.
unless she issbound clearly out OF !!
the course Indicated by her papers
and unable to give adequate reasons
to Justify such Invitations,
Article "a is as follows:
! ..The following articles, suscepti.
BILE of use in war as well as for purzl
poses OF peace, may Without notice be
treated as scontraband OF war, under
the name OF conditional contraband.
Il odstuffs.
3 Forage and grain suitable for
feeding animals.
8. Clothing, fabrics for clothing.
and boots and shoes suitable for use
in war.
q: Gold and silver in coin or bull
lion; paper money.
B s.: Vehicles Of ali kinds available
for use in war and their component
parts.
6. Vessels, craft and boats OF ali
kinds; floating docks. parts OF docks,
and their component parts.
q Railway material. both fixed
and rolling stock and material forl
telegrops, wireless telegrapfs and ter
ephones.
y S. Balloons and flying machines
and their component parts togetherl
with accessories and articles recog-
ttizab1e as intended fpr5use In connec-
Hon with balloons and flying ma
chimes.
p. Fuel. lubricants.
40. Powder and explosives not spc-
ci4ily prepared for use IN war.
u. Barbed wire and implements