The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-04
American Neutrality.

American Neutrality.
The German Ambassador vas re-
ported yesterday as saying mat NE
had incontrovertihle Information that
quantities Of contraband Of war. such
os ammunition. automobiles and cloth
ing" were being shipped constantly
from the United States to England.
with which country his own Is now
at war.
We have no doubt that Count Won
BrRNsroRFF's information Is accurate
The SEA way 10 the British Islands Is
nractlcally open to commerce. and II Il
ouitc natural that there should he
traffic I'm goods desired Ivy belllser-
ent. even goods Of that class "t con-
traband which chief Justice 'lASt
defined as articles manufactured ana
primarily and ordinarily usei Tor mil
tary purposes in time of wal Th'"'
Of course. would include arms ana
ammunition.
The German Ambassador was further
reported ~ saying that In HI" 'Vinl"h
this constitute, "a plain VIOLATION
the neutrality o. the United states.
He must have brought the matter To
the attention either of the PrrSid"nt
or of Secretary BRYAN, t'' : ''."'
despatch from Washington gra'"lN
announced that the Department "t
state was considering whether 'u'h
sales do in fact constitute neutrality
breach.
II would he n poor compliment To
tho German Ambassadors intelligence
md knowledge of international law
and prcccdcnts "a suppose maj ms
mind can for an instant cntTTtnth -
idea that the shipping Of c"ntrnpnhu
goods by private individuals consti-
flutes a breach Of neutrality by ire
American Government; or TINT IN law
or morals or even in good friendship
there exists any obligation ON the pnrt
OF this Government to prevent the
shipment to England, for instance OF
goods declared by Germany to be con
trahand Of war. or to Germany OF
goods similarly regarded by Great
Britain.
IL there could possibly he any Doubt
in Count Won RrHNsroRff'S NINA about
the traditional and consistent policy
of our Government In this respect
he would find clear statement IN
the proclnmatlon issued by President
GRANT ON Augrsj 90. $50. ~ the time
Of the last previous war between Ger
many and France:
while all persons MAJ lawfully ana
without restriction. by reason OF the afore-
said state of war, manufacture ana sell
within the United States arms and mu-
nltions OF war and other articles ordi-
rarllv known as 'contrnband OF war, yet
,hev cannot carry such articles upon the
high seas for the use or service OF either
beui9erent without mourning
the risk Of hostile capture and the penal
ties denounced by the law Of nations In
that behalf And do hereby give notice
that All citizens OF the United States, and
others who may claim the protection OF
this Government. vino may misconduct
themselves in the premises will do so a,
their peril, and that they can In no wise
obtain any protection from the Govern
ment of the United States against the
consequences Of their misconduct
The general principle Of neutral oh
lication with regard 10 the sale and
shipmcnt of contraband goods has beer
stated over and over again by al
writer's ON international law. This Is
the form of It's statement by Professor
HOLLAND of oxford. in his "Studies II
International Law:
1.-THE neutral Power is under no oblga
ton to prevent It's subjects from engaging
in the running OF blockades, in shippinl
or carving contrabnnd or In carryin,
troops or 4 rpatch,s for one of th'
belllgerents but, on tie other hand
neutral subjects SO engaged can expec
no protection from their own Government
against such customary penalties as ma!
be Imposed upon their conduct by ~
belllgerent who Is aggreved by It,"
DR.. WoOlsEY Of Yale:
1.-The neutral ought not to be SUBJECTED
BY the Quarrels Of others to adlitiOna
care and expense, Hence by the practlc
OF nations ne Is passive with regard L
violations Of the rules concerning contra
band, blockade and the like, and leave
the policing Of the sea and the punish,u
or reprsal power in the hands OF thos
who are most interested, the limits bein
fixed for the punishment by common usag
1 or law, II Is admitted that tn
act OF carrying to the enemy article