The chronicle=news., 1914-10-26
BRITISH WILL
ENFORCE SHIPPING
RULES ON ALL
NEUTRAL NATIONS

NEUTRAL VHJlUVS
Washington. Oct. 26.-Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, the British ambassador.
by instruction OF Sir Edward Grey,
issued warning today to American
shippers. through the state depart
tmen. to consign all cargoes bound
for neutral countries to the neutral
government or specific consignee.
Two notes addressed to Acting Sec
rotary Lansing says British cruisers
will not interfere with neutral COM
consigned. The documents specifical-
ly exempt cotton from molestation.
even destined to belliserent coun-
tries. as this article is not contra
| oand
With respect to mineral oils and
articles listed as condition contra
band. the note says Great Britain will
seize no cargoes If the papers of the
ship show their ultimate destination
10 be neutral. 1r
The first note dated today says:
In compliance with your request.
I telegraphed on the 23rd instant to
my government to inquire what was
their view with regard to cotton and
whether or not they considered 1t to
be contraband. You addressed this
question to me as You said there
seemed to be doubt In certain quar-
tiers in this country aa to the atti-
tude of my government.
| Last night l received a reply from
Sir Edward Grey. in which he auth
orizes 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 be aware from
the draft Of the proclamation now in
your possession, II is not proposed to
include 1t in our new list of contra
band II Is therefore. az far as Great
Britain is concerned, in the free list
and will remain there"
The second note refers particular
ly to the case of the tanker Rookie
Teller recently released by the British
policy of Great Britain on the sub
ject of contraband. The text follows:
with reference to the case Of
Rockefeller I think 1t would be op-
perfume were I to make some re-
marks on the general question Of con-
ltraband and the attitude of the Brit
ish government. Hr
You are doubtless aware that in
the last few weeks there has been a
marked increase of the export of GER
tain articles as compared with prev.
ious years. to those neutral countries
which are in direct communication
with the belligerents nations.
Il will quote among many. the
single instance OF mineral oils, and
the returns for the month Of Septem-
Der. Whereas, the value OF the Unit
ed States exports of the principal ex-
ports for that month as compared
with September, 1913. have de-
creased from 1O7 to "a million dol
lars. or thirty per cent. the export
OF gasoline. naptha, ETC.. has In
creased from 20 to % million gal
Ions or ! ) Der cent, and of fuel oil
from SO to IS million gallons or 81
per cent.
IT need not point out that the
course of the present has shown the
immense importance of the motor.
the airship and the submarine, all of
which are consumers of mineral OIL
may add that there is reason TO be-
lieve that mineral oil In all its forms
may he used for these purposes.
"A large proportion of the exports
of this country has been consigned to
/ neutral ports, and according to evil
dence in our possession has been
transmitted from them to belliger-
ent country. AS you are aware, the
supreme court of the United States
in 1863 considered vessels as carry
ing contraband although sailing
from one neutral port to another, II
the goods concerned were destined
to be transported by land or sea from
the neutral port of landing into the
enemy's territory. 1t then decided
that the character of the goods is de-
termined by their ultimate and not
their immediate destination, and this
doctrine was at the time acquiesced
in by Great Britain though her own
trade was the chief sufferer.
"On the other hand. the neutral
countries concerned, who are anx-
ious in the interests of their neu-
trality to avoid being used as bases
for hostilities by either belligerent.
now are making arrangements which
will give 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
belligerent. When these arrange
ments are complete. 1t is to be conf
IDENTIFY hoped that the trade between
neutrals will be subject to little or
no hindrance.
ut is to be hoped that for the
future ADEQUATE pprecaution will be
taken in order to show the real des-