Pocahontas star herald., 1914-08-21
HOW WAR AFFECTS
AMERICAN TRADE:
Many U. S, Exports Arc De.
ClsTHt GOntTaband.
LAWS GOVERNING SHIPPING.

Food intended For solaisrs Is = Con.
irahand Of wHr-Po~sr Of Nation,
20 Enforce eloekadss viii Have a,
etset-eosl and Flour Often Barred
The Right 10 Search.
Washinfton.-ln the general war
10 Europe the old question OF what
s eontrnband Uf war becomes OF tre.
mendous Importance to the Omitted
States.
IL is commonly assumed that this
country will AZ least temporarily be
great gniner that the foreign nations
will buy great quantities OF food
stuffs, clothing and other articles for
the maintenance Of their people while
the helds are Idle and the shops closed
because men are needed at the front
THIS IL likely TO be true. But much
Of such talk proceeds without reck.
oning the practice Of nations with
respect 70 contraband aud without
perceiying that European war Is
likely 10 develop such orders MS to
contrnband as greatly to minimize the
exporthtion Of American goods 10 the
other side OF the Atlantic.
The general definition OF contra.
band is certain articles particularly
necessary 10 war and bound TO any
pnrt Of the Vnemy's territory after
the war Is known TO exist.
10 this should be added that all ar.
tlcles become contraband when bound
TO a place bosieged or blockaded and
their importation into such a place is
attempted
In general, that Is contraband which.
according 10 international law-or
more strictly. according to the orders
or proclamations Of bellIgerent nations
cannot be supplied TO a hostile bel.
ngerent except az the risk OF seizure
or condemnation by the aggrieyed bel.
ligerent
II is sometimes vaguely supposed
that there are definite. fixed rules in
international law or in the laws or
regulations OF a nation as to what
constitutes coBtraband. This is in
correct What may have been con-
traband In one war may cease TO be
In another, Thus. in the civil war.
slaves who escaped or were brought
4 within the lines were considered con.
tnband.
The political articles will include
everything In the way Of war NUM-
tons and supplies for armies and
lpavies Uo.,i~Ne included. prob
ably. especially II deshIed TO a port
where 1t can be used for a naval YES.
vel.
Since the new naval vessels In some
cases burn oil Il Is likely iii viii be
declared contraband Flour Is likely
10 be declared contraband Gold
would be contraband because its ship
ment would be directly calculated TO
swell the war chests OF the nations at
odds.
Ordinarily -four or provisions, II
clearly destined 70 the use OF the pop
ulation and not OF the army. would
not be held contraband. But IL there
was any doubt about Il one Of the
countries would Of course. seize the
-four. In the RussO-Japenese war. de-
spite objections. Russia held dour con.
traband.
An American vessel In. war be
tween England and Germany could
carry any cargo TO Germany. But
England would have the right TO stop
the vessel on the high seas and search
IL II Il found coutraband goods such
goods could be and would be seized
This country could take no just Of
fense under the rules OF international
law.
II II was found that the vessel was
seeking to get the goods through by
ruse and deception not only the cargo
but the vessel, might he seized
The situation will probably be this:
The United States would have the
right to ship goods into the countries
declared blockaded or into ports which
are besieged, but the blockading coun'
tries would have the right OF seizure
whether trade was blocked would de-
pend on the power OF the blockaders'
In other words. n paper blockade is
not recognized. The country that ue-
clares II hns 70 make II good WIN
force.