The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-22
Uncle Sam as Merchant ship
Owner.

seem to be quite obvious. In the first |
place the vendors would unquestionably |
be either German or Austrian owners, |
chiefly the former, and therefore no
question as TO the legality of the trans
action under International principles Is
at all likely TO be made by either Of
these Powers. Nor can they fairly CON-
plain of any use we put the vessels to
after their purchase. 1t Is an antece
dent certainty that we are not buying
them to let them lie idle, and trade with
European ports Is obviously the great
profitable opportunity OF the moment
Assent to the use Of the ships In that
transfer.
On the other hand. as the German and
Austrian seaports are already or are
pretty sure to be blockaded, practi.
cally the only use that can be made OF
the ships In transatlantic trade must
be fer the benefit Of France and Eng
land. II Is to them that we shall ship
grain, meat and other supplies In our
new vessels. Therefore 1t Ia quite
probable that they will not make any
serious complaint as to the irregularty
OF our action IN purchasing the ships
from n belllgereut long after we knew
OF the existence of n state of war.
II IL not unlikely that for the time
being we may escape any serious mis-
understanding with either party to the
European struggle seeing that in one
way or another our action will he
favorable TO both. Germany will get
cash for her ships, now useless TO her,
and England and France will he facili-
tated in getting much needed oversee
commodities. Just how all the nations
interested may be inclined when the war
Is over Is quite another question. All
alike may feel that we took advantage
terests. But as In doing so we served
their turn it Is hard to see how there
Is much ground for recrlmlnation on
their part.
While the acquisition OF the vessels
Is thus matter involving no national
danger It cannot he said that we es-
| cape all prospect OF complication in
| owning and navigating them. Once we
send them to sea we subject them TO
all the laws Of the worlds highroad
whichever of the belligerents may over
haul them and inquire as to their
traffic. This being the case Il Is TO
he expected that before the purchase
Is made, at least before the vessels
are cleared for European ports. due at
tentlon will be given 10 this provision
OF the Declaration of London. which
though II may not have the force OF n
treaty certainly lays down the law Of
war at sea ms at present understood:
ARTICLE 24-The following articles sus-
ceptible OF use in war as well as for pur-
poses OF peace may without notice he
treated as contraband Of war under the
name OF conditional contra band ~
Foodstuffs (2) forage and grain suitable
for feeding animals; 90 clothing fabric,
for clothing and boots and shoes suitable
FOR use in war; 90 gold and silver In
| 'blll WI hull4bH paper rlOltN 'Ol VeNl
cles OF all kinds available for use In wa
and their component parts; (s) vessels
craft and boats Of all kinds; foatnl
docks, parts OF docks and their component
: parts; % railway material. both fxet
and rolling stock. and materials for tele
graphs, wireless teleEraphs and tele
, phones 90 balloons and nying machines
90 fuel; lubricants 90
, powder and explosives not specially pre-
pared for use in war; ,1D barbed wir
and instruments for use In cutting tn,
same: G2) horseshoes and shoeng ma
terials G3) harness and saddlery: "a,
field glasses, telescopes. chronometers an,
all sorts OF nautical Instruments"
SHne few Of these articles we nigh
not desire to export, and there are som
not enumerated which we should OK
> port largely, as, for instance, raw cot
ton. But, on the whole, the list cover
: a large proportion of our probable shiT
:, ments during war time. This being tn
q case, certain other paragraphs of tn
-, Declaration become of paramount in
= terest, such as the following;
. ARTICLE 33--Conditional contraband
liable to capture II II Is shown to be des
tined for the use OF the armed forces G
d" for a Government department OF the er
envy state. unless in this latter case III
= circumstances show that the goods cannC
e In fact be used for the purposes OF III
y war in progress This latter exceptio
Is does not apply to a consignment comm
@ under Article "a %.
II ARTICLE 34--The destination referre
# to In Article SO Is presumed to exist II II
, goods are consigned to enemy authorize
-, or TO a contractor established In the enen
country who as matter OF commo
- knowledge supplies articles OF this kr
'o to the enemy, similar presumptic
u arises II the goods are consigned to
y fortified place belonging to the enemy
rs other place serving as a base for Il
TO armed forces OF the enemy.
n ARTICLE 36-A vessel carrying goo
liable TO capture as absolute or cond
h. tional contraband may be captured on Il
:. high seas or in territorial waters Of Il
~ belligerents throughout the whole OF h
. voyage.
w "AprIcir a9---Contraband goods a