New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

sea we divert them into our ports OF
suspicion and search them there. III
itself this practice can hardly. We
tbink be given up, resulting, as II does
from the tactics Of German submarines
"As is well known, their almost IN
variable practice in attacking our war
ships is 70 approach them behlnd me
screen of an enemy mercnantman' ana
this has made Do impracucaDle lot Wal
ehips 10 conduct more than nasty eN-
animation OF merchantmen in the open
seas. This impracticability IS enhanced
iv the great size Of modern merchant
cleaners as compared WIN the oIu
sailing craft. and the possibility has
NOT uncommonly been exploited, We be-
Ieve. during the present war OF snug
cling IN their capacious holds goods
very different from those declared ana
shown on the surface. In fact. unless
search i'm harbor and detention for
that purpose be conceded the right 20
search must for all practical purposes
disappear.
IN the American Senate and Con-
gress now sitting at Washington there
are. Of course, a certain NUMBER OF
strong pro-German politicians ana
certain number Of other members VINO
represent the old bitter antl-English
preiudice. now, we hope, obsolecent as
regards the mass of the American peo-
/ plc. These minorities will naturally
seek TO exploit in their own favor the
sentiment Of American trade interest
1T is for Americans who realize
what Great Britain is fighting for ana
what higher American interests are IN
volved in the Allies victory 10 frus-
trate any such tactics and TO see tnat
in their life and death struggle the
Allies get fair play. We feel sure that
the British government viii, on us
side. deserve their support by conced.
ing readily 10 the representations o.
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Bryan every point
which is not inconsistent with our
legitimate and successful prosecution
of the war"
Great Britain Not Alone TO Blame.
"The Morning Post" in its editorial,
controvorts the statements IN the
United States note that Great Britain
policv is responsible for the depres-
sion existing i'm many American indus
tiIes. pointing out that, independently
OF Great Brtain's participation IN the
var. vast dislocation Of trade and
industry was inevitable, owing TO the
fact that five other great powers were
involved. The editorial continues: at
cannot. therefore. be the general de-
pression Of trade that eXcites IN Amer
lea feelings directed against England.
! The cause of those feelings seems 10
/ be the action Of the British Admiralty
/ in examining American ships and IN
selling cargoes suspected OF being con-
/ traband Of war.
This has always been a sore point
with neutrals during wars. We shall
not at present attempt 20 discuss tne
American complaints. II Will be pet
ter 10 await the full text OF the NOTE
and perhaps the British government s
reply, for only the British government
knows exactly what action has been
, taken by British naval officers under
the instructions Of the Admiralty. But
we shall ask those Americans who
think England was right in taking part
in the war to try 70 put themselves IN
Eugland's position. What We should
like 10 ask them is how they would
suggest that England should carry on
the war Do they not agree that II
the Allies are TO have chance or
success they must obtain and keep the
command Of the sea against Germany,
Austria and Turkey, and must also de-
feat the armies OF those countries?
How, then, do our American friends
suppose that that command Of the sea
should be used except as means OF
cxerting pressure on an enemy IL
was used BY the United states govern
mena as means of eXertng pressure
on the Confederacy. The trade of all
foreign states with the Confederacs
was cut off and the Confederacy
starved. The United States govern
ment declared a blockade Of the whole
coast of the Confederacy from the Pc
tomac 10 the Mexican border, and thus
every neutral ship trading with Con-
federate ports was liable 10 capture.
'"The allied governments might now
declare a blockade of the North Sea.
the Baltic and the Mediterranean, and
could, no doubt. make IL effective.
That would lnjure neutral states. espe-
cislly Holland, Italy and Denmark, but
IL would make an end OF sea trade with
Germany. The whole difficulty Of using
sea power with effect lies in the pres
ence Of neutral states adjacent 10 the
belligerents, because through those
neutral states cargocs from other neu-
trail countries can reach the bellig-
erents. Accordingly, the practice has
usually been 20 prevent those cargoes
which could be useful in helping an en-
envy to carry Q. war from reaching the
enemy across neutral territory or in
neutral ships.
This is the purpose of the doctrine
Of contraband. il is a doctrine that
has arisen from the necessities Of war
and one that has never been agreeable
70 neutrals, but il is but part Of a
certain great fact OF life, Of the law
Of nature, that great nations cannot
carry on war against one another with
out other nations suffering
There is another doctrine that per
haps ought TO be considered by advo-
Gates of the idea that wars could be
altogether avoided or abolished, the
doctrine Of neutrality. The justiiica-
ton Of neutrality consists in two con
siderations. the first that rights
and wrongs as between belligerents
are often obscure. for each belligerent
proclaims itself lighting for .he right
and tries 10 make out its case; the
second. that 10 Is good practice TO mind
ones own business and that quarrels
between states are very often no ones
affair but their own.
Suppose an American 10 think that
Germany's attack on her neighbors
was a wrong. and that it is bad for
mankind that wrong should be trI-
umphant, how does that fit in with the
doctrine Of neutrality? INA quiet town
in England or America IL 1t becomes
known that c. is numbering or rob
! bling b peaceful citizens rush to
help 3 - and TO constrain C 20 be-
have himself; but if c. ard B are
states, not citizens OF a quiet town
other peaceful states are quite well
! pleased with themselves II they sit
stll AM say. It's none of our bust
ness. Let US trade with C. and with
81 Y too u he should survive'