The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-08
Question of Contra band.

While the neutrality laws of the United
states and the Hague conventions and
also the Declaration Of London All pro-
vide that II is the duty OF q neutral Gov
,rnment to prevent the departure from its
ports ~ ships which hav" been titted out
I'm such ports for the purpose of cruising
or hostile operations against friendly
Power, and require the departure within
twenty four hours or internment OF any
vessel which is II ship Of war OF one OF
the bcligerents. there is no provision in
any OF these laws and agreements for
prohibiting tho export OF contraband OF
war
The Departments orders, however.
would prohibit any foreign vessel from
taking out arms or munitions of war,
Tho neutrality proclamation recites that
the laws and treaties OF the United States
do not interfere with the right of persons
within tho United States engaging in the
manufacture or sale of arms and NUM-
lions Of war; but gives warning that per-
sons furnishing arms and munitions TO
belligerents do so AZ their own risk, all
articles of contrabsnd consigned 10 bel
ligercnt being liable to seizure by an
enemy bclligerent
partment had hardly been made public
when a case in point arose which Illus
trated the confusion existing among the
Government departments In regard TO war
questions.
The Philippine Government cabled the
/ War Department that they were igno-
I rant as to whether the Pacific Mail steam
Z ship Manchuria should be permitted "a
leave Manila because OF the fact that
she had on board French. German and
| Austrian reservsts.
ono official of the War Department
remembered seeing in the newspapers that
reservists should not leave United states
d hsr
navy had ships out 10 watch vessels leav
ing American ports
Consequently an appeal was made frs
10 the Navy Department TO decide th'
case of the Manchuria, The Navy De
partment referred the War Department
10 the Treasury Department, but befor'
inquiry was made II was suggested tina
the Commerce Department should decide
hut T. was finally put up to the stat
nepa, tment'
At the state Department the ruling VA
given, regardless Of the Department o
Commences instructions, that the Man
churia could proceed to HongNons pr"
yided she did not bear men under arm
and embodied In a military organization
So Manila was told to let the Man
; Churia 20.
Representatives Of foreign and domesti
interests report that their most earhsS
efforts to get exact information from IN
Government as 10 what they can or cehhu
do have proved unavailing
= Other Instances have occurred. The Sec
retarv of the Navy to-day gave, Out
, statement urging the passage by Congress
AZ once of legislation permitting the nav
s 10 use vessels In the freight and mail sci
I vice This is desirable, he said, hecauS
of tho necessity of getting the America
: wheat crop to the European markets
% Yet the state Department yester1a
= announced the British conrapahd lis
e which enumcrates foodstuffs as one
,ha articles of conditional contraba n
Y witch are liable to seizure II destlne
: for an enemy OF the British.
n In other words, II the United stat
y Government should send wheat 70 &c
: many in naval collers, as is propose
n the action would challenge Great Br!ta
e 10 seize such vessel, for carrying COZ
u traband to the enemy and no prote
h could properly be made against cue
seizure By Great Britain.