Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-10-27
WARNING SENT
TO NEUTRAL SHIPS
Great Britain Says Csrgoes Should
Be Consigned to Neutral Gov
ernments or Consignees.
COTTON IS NOT CoETRABAND
Mineral Oils Regarded aH Contra
band when Their ultimate Des-
tInatiOn f. 60 Country that
IL Now at War.

WASHINGTON, Oct. &-Sir Cecil
Spring Hice, the British ambassador, by
instruction of Sir Edward Grey. issued a
warning today TO American shippers
through tho State department, to con-
sign all cargoes bound for neutral coun-
tries 20 the neutral government or a
specific consignee.
Two notes addressed 10 Acting Secre-
tary Lansing say British cruisers will
not interfere with neutral commerce
when shipments are properly consigned.
Tho documents specifically exempt cot
ton from molestation. even though
destined TO beiligerent countries, as this
article is not contraband
With respect TO mineral oils and articles
listed az conditional contraband. the notes
say Great Britain will seize no cargoes
II the papers OF the ship show their
ultimate destination 10 be neutral.
Cotton on Free List.
The first note dated today SAYS:
I'm compliance with your request. I
telegraphed on the z3d inst. TO my gov
eminent TO inquire what was their view
with regard to cotton and whether or not
they considered II to be contraband. You
addressed this question 70 me, as you
eAaN NhEtD bNtHiGu 10 DC uOuUI IN certain
quarters In this country az 20 the atti-
tude OF my government
Last night received a reply from Sir
Edward Grey. In which he authorizes to
me TO give the assurance that cotton will
not be seized. He points out that cotton
has not been put In any OF our lists of
contraband and as your department must
DO aware from the draft of the procIa-
nation now In your possession, It is not
proposed 20 include It in our now list
OF contraband. II In, therefore, as far as
Great Britain concerned. in the free Hist
and will remain there"
Definition of Contrahand.
The second note refers particularly to
the case of the tanker ''Rockefeller.'' re.
Gently released by the British govern
ment, but states the general policy OF
Great Britain on the subject OF contra
band. The text follows:
With reference 10 the case OF the
Rockefeller. ] think II would be oppor-
tune were / 20 make some remarks on
the general question OF contraband and
the attitude Of the British government.
you are doubtless aware In the last
Few weeks there has been a marked in
crease of the export OF certain articies
as compared with previous years to those
neutral countries which are in direct
communication with the belligerent ma.
tons. will choose, among many. the
single instance OF mineral oils, and the
returns for the month OF September
whereas the value OF the United States
exports OF the principal exports for thst
month as compared with September, 1913.
nave decreased from tlO7 O0O.OOO TO s7I .
OOo. or 30 per cent. the export Of gasoline.
naptha- etc. has increased from N.OOO 90
to S.cOO0oo gallons. or Is per cent. and
OF fuel oil from 100000 to IS. 600 900 gal
Ions. or 81 per cent
Il need not Boint out that the course
OF the present war has shown the i'm
mense Importance OF the motor, the air
snip and the submarine. all OF which. arc
consumers OF mineral oil. / may add
that there Ia reason 10 believe that
mineral oil In all Its forms may be used
Tor these purposes
Quotes Supreme Court.
"A largo proportion OF tho exports OF
this country has been consigned to neu.
trail ports, and according TO evidence In
our possession has been transmitted from
them to belligerent. country. As YOU
are aware, the supreme court OF the
United States in 1858 considered vessels
as carrying oontraband. although sailing
from one neutral port to another, II the
goods concerned were destined &c. bs
transported by land or sea from the nou.
tral port Of landing into an enemy's
country. 1t then decided that the char
acter OF the goods is determined by theil
ultimate and not their immediate des.
nnation' and this doctrine was at the
time acquiesced in by Great Britain, al.
though its own trade was the chief SUI.
ferer.
ON the other hand. the neutral coun-
tries concerned. who are anxious In the
interests OF neutrality to avoid being
used as bases for hostillties by either
belligerent, now are making arrange
ments which win give sure guarantees
that articles which may be used In war
shall not be re-exported. In word,
they are anxious TO prevent their ports
from becoming the back door OF either
oelligerent. When these ARRANGEMENTS
are complete. Il IL to be confidently
hoped that trade between neutrals will
be subject to little or no hindranoe.
IT is TO be hoped that for the futur.
adequate precaution will be taken n
order to show the real destination q
goods CONSUMED TO neutrals which, 4
trans-shipped TO belligerent, might b
used for beiligerent purposes
I may observe in conclusion that al
though the British government has de-
tained carsoes OF contraband In order I,
make sure that they are really intende,
Tor neutral countries and have retaine.
some oarsoes such as copper destined 70
krupps' ammunition works. they hav,
not yet taken a single cargo without pay
ing Tor II and have allowed every carr,
really destined for neutral countries 4,
proceed to it's destination.
No Consignment 60 Order.
But Il Is. OF course. essential IN IN,
interests OF free and undisturbed trad,
between neutrals that every seourit,
possible should be provided In order 4
enable bolliserents TO form a speedy ant
sure Judgment Rs 10 the neutral des.
tination Of goods which may be used 70,
peaceful or warlike purposes. In IN,
case OF the Rockefeller, which va,
bound for a port in the near neiehbor.
hood OF the chief naval port OF a beluE.
erent the OIL Il carried was eonsiKned
a