New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-27
Real Destination of Goods
Sent to NeutralS Must
Be Shown.
u. S. SUPREME COURT
DECISION IS CITED
Held in 1868 That Character of
Shipment Depended on Ulti-
mate Destination.
Lrrom The Trlblne Eureau.


r..c terms "a communication from
ne British Ambassador TO the State
Department, which was made public at
sac en- oasss tonight.
The letter, written by the ambass ador'
Suf tcci. Spr.lR-kice. refers Dartlcu.
.trly 20 Che recent shipments Of mineral
o.. from the United States 10 neutral
3urOpca- cOuntriea and the detention
90 tn Standard oil snip. the Rockcfe,-
.er. lie lays stress upon the military
importance o. tho motor car. the air
ship and the submarine, which use
mineral Of. end insists that the British
government has evidence that some OF
the oil shipped 20 neutral countries
from tho United States has been trans
SHIPPED to bclligcrCnt countries. To
avoid further friction, he suggests thai
precautions be taken 20 make certa IN
tHat supplies Of this character from the
United States are destined for neutral
countries.
Ir justification of the British atti-
tude the ambassador points TO the de-
cision rendered by the United states
Suprems Court in 1868 that the char
acter Of goods is TO be determined by
their ultimate destination, irrespective
of the fact that they might be shipped
from one neutral port to another.
The letter Of the ambassador to hr.
Lansing, Acting Secretary OF state tol-
lows:
with reference 80 the case Of the
Rockefeller. think it would be oppor-
tune were | 90 make some remarks on
TIE general question OF contraband and
the attitude OF the British government
Marked Increase in Exports.
"You are doubtless aware that in the
last few weeks there has been a marked
increase of the export Of certain artI-
cles. as compared with previous years
20 those neutral countries which are IN
direct communication with the belllg-
crent nations. 7 will choose, among
many. the single instance OF mineral
oils and the returns for the month OF
September. Whereas the value OF
United States exports Of the prnclpa!
articles for that month as compared
With September, 1913. has decreased
from Sl07 100000 30 1i,OOO,OOo, or ~
per cent. the export Of gasolene'
naphtha. etc. has increased from ~
600 900 10 23000,000 gallons, or 10 per
cent. end of fuel oil from 3G,0OO,0OO to
jS.0O0,000 gallons, or 81 per cent.
IL need not point out that the course
OF the present war has shown the I'M
mense Importance of the motor, the ar
ship and the submarine, all OF Nhlch
are consumers of mineral oil. } may
I'D that there is reason 20 DelleVe thaI
mineral oil in all its forms may De
used for these purposes. large pro-
rortion of the exports Of this country
las been consigned 70 neutral ports,
md according % evidence IN our pos
-eg.ion has been transmitted from
them 10 a bellicerent country. \: you
ere aware the Supreme Court OF tie
United States in 1853 con- .dered yesse!
40 carving contrananG. ,ltnough sal -
ing from tie neutral pOr 20 ancthe!' Ut
inc goods concerned were destined 70
be transported by land o. sea from tne
neutral port Of landing INTO enemy Ter
ritorv. 1t then decided That the char-
acter Of the goods Is dereTmlned oy
their ultimate, and not their immediate
destination. and this doctrine was NJ
The time acquiesccd - by NreAO
Britain, though her own Grade was the
chief sufferer
"Or the other hand, The neutral
countries ccuccined who are ANXIOUS IN
.bc interest o. their ueutrahty 70
avoid being used a. oaee. Tor nos
-Uf,ies b- either heii!Cerent, arc no"
,,akiro Irrarc,mcnta watch VIII give
.,.rc f-uarar.ec -hat art clcs vhicn may
80 u.ed il, .-sr shat. not he rc-eNpot'ed.
r. = word. hey are anxious 10 prevent
.heir ports Irom becoming ihe BACK
door OF either beiligorent. When these
orrangemcnts are complete, It Is 10 be
confidently hoped that trade between
nentra,s viii be subject TO little or no
hindrancc.
WHY the Rockefeller Was Held.
"Rut il H.. OF course, essential IN the
interests Of free and undisturhed trade
between neutrals that every security
possible should De provided IN order 20
enable belligerents 10 form 4 apeedy
and sure Judgment as 20 the neutral
destination o. goods which may DC
u.ed Tor peacetul or warlike purposes.
In the case OF .hc Rockefeller, which
va hound for q port ia the near neigh
horhood of the chief naval port OF "
hoIligerent, the oil she carried was
CONSIGNED 20 order and there was
therefore no guarantee hat II would
not be forwarded 10 the enemy. She
was accordingly detained until PROOF
,ras afforded of the neutral destination
Of her cargo and the intention or the
neutral goyerumen. 20 prevent rc-eX-
at IS 10 be hoped tia, FOR The future
adauuatc Drecautiore VII be taken ~
order 20 show the zeal destination o.
goods consigned TO ocu'rals "hicn. -
trans shipped 70 be,ngercrt, m.-aL BE-
used for bclligercnt purposes.
Il may observe IN conclusion that al
though trc British government have
detained cargocs Of cortraband in or
der 10 make sure that they are really
intended Tor neutral countric-, ard
have retained ONE carcOes, such as
copper destined Tor krupps ammuni-
zion ,qorEs, they have lot yet taken a
single cargo without paying for II, and
have allowed every cargo really des-
tined for neutral countries 20 proceed
20 its destination"
san Francisco. Oc,. 26.M AZ coDdi-
.;ons have developed such an Inprece-
fented commerce between the Pacific
Coast and the Scandinavian countries,
according 10 port officials here, ,ha, to-
DAVIS warning from the British Ambas-
sador A. Washington that neutral car
gocs should be consigned TO the neutral
Governments or 10 specified con-
signee was regarded rs timely and
necessary.
Since The war began countries which
never before have been customers on
the Pacific Coast have been heavy buy
crs here. Denmark, Sweden and Nor
way are now buyers of all manner OF
commodities which they never pur-
chased here before.
Never in my life" said one official
through whose hands pass all the ships
manifests made out at this port, have
/ seen such cargoes a. are leaving here
nov. 7 don't wonder that come form
OF warning was considered Necessary
The Granddaughter Correspondent