The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-08-14
HOW WAR AFFECTS.
AMERICAN TRADE.
Many U. S. Exports Are De-
ClaTed COntraband.
LAWS GOVERNING SHIPPING.

Food Intended For Soldiers Is a Con-
trahand of NARROWER of Nations
to Enforce 6lockades Will Have Its
E.fect-Coal and Flour often Barred
The Right to Search.
Washington.-In the general wal
in Europe the old question of what
is contraband of war becomes of tire
mendous importance to the United
States.
Ii is commonly assumed that this
country will at least temporarily be a
great gamer: that the foreign nations
will buy great quantities OF food
stuffs, clothing and other articles fOI
the maintenance of their people while
the fields are idle and the shops closed
because men are needed at the front
This is likely to be true. But much
of such talk proceeds without reck
oning the practice of nations with
respect to contraband and without
perceiving that European war is
likely to develop such orders as TO
contraband as greatly TO minimize the
expectation of American goods to the
other side of the Atlantic
The general definition of contra
band is certain articles particularly
necessary to war and bound to any
part of the enemy's territory after
the war is known to exist
To this should be added that all ar
ticles become contraband when bound
to a place besieged or blockaded and
their importation into such place is
attempted.
In general, that is contraband which,
according to international law-or,
more strictly. according to the orders
or proclamations of belligerent nations
cannot be supplied to a hostile bel
ligerent except at the risk of seizure
~vaSssvrGsr,sttfvn vy tue aSssEO,s..u a-~~I
lgerent
Ii is sometimes vaguely supposed
that there are definite, fixed rules in
international law or in the laws or
constitutes contraband This Is in.
correct. What may have been con.
traband in one war may cease to be
in another Thus, i'm the civil war.
slaves who escaped or were brought
within the lines were considered con-
traband.
The political articles will include
everything In the way of war MUM
tions and supplies for armies and
nayies. Coal will be included. prob
ably, especially If destined to a port
where it can be used for a naval yes
sci.
Since the new naval vessels i'm some
cases burn oil it is likely oil win be
declared contraband Flour is likely
to be declared contraband Gold
would be contra band because it's ship
ment would be directly calculated to
swell the war chests of the nations al
odds.
Ordinarily -four or provisions, il
clearly destined to the use of the pop
ulation and not OF the army, would
not be held contraband But If there
was any doubt about it one OF The
countries would. of course, seize the
-four. In the Russo-Japanese war, de
spite objections, Russia held -four con
ira aband
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 1T found contraband goods such
goods could be and would be seized
This country could take no just Of
fense under the rules of international
law
II it was found that the vessel was
seeking to get the goods through by
ruse and deception not only the cargo
but the vessel, might be 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
I'm other words. paper blockade Is
not recognized. The country that de
clares it has to make 1t good with
force.