Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-08-13
HOW WAR AFFECTS
AMERICAN TRADE
Many u. S, Exports Are De-
CIaTed COntTaOand.
LAWS GOVERNING SHIPPING.

Food intended For Soldiers Is q Con
traband Of War--Powcr OF Nations
TO Enforce Blockades viii Have It's
sHect--coal and Flour Often Barred
The Right to Search.
Washington, In the grucral war
IN Europe the old question OF what
is coutrahaud OF war becomes OF tire
mcndeus Importance 10 the United
States
1t is commonly assumed that this
country will ut least temporarily he u
great gamer; that the foreign nations
Will huy great quantities OF food
SUITS clothing and other articles tor
the matntrnance OF their people white
the fields are idle ami the shops closed
because men are needed nj the front
This is likely to be true But much
Of such talk proceeds without rrck
oniug the practice OF nations with
respect to coutrahaud and without
pcrcriVing that European war Is
likely to develop such orders as to
contrahaud as greatly to minimize the
expectation of American goods to the
other Sidc of the Atlantic,
The general definition OF contra,
band is certain articles particularly
necessary to war and bound to any
part OF the cncmy's territory after
the war Is known to exist.
TO this should ho added that all ar
tiClcs become contrnhAnd when bound
TO u place hcsiegcd or hlockadcd and
their importation into such Il place is
attempted.
In general. that Is coutrabnnd which,
according to International law or,
more strictly, according to the orders
or proclamations OF hclligcrcnt nations
cannot be supplied to hosttl" bel
ligercnt except ut the risk of seizure
or condemnation by the aEgricved bel
ligercnt
1t Is sometimes vaguely supposed
that there are definite, fixed rules in
international law or In the laws OF
ItEHIulltilS pl IHllbH us W w hdl
constitutes contruhand This Is IN
correct What may have been con
trahnnd in one war may cease To he
In another Thus, In the ciVil war,
slaves who escaped or were brought
within the lines were considered con.
trahnnd
The political articles viii include
everything In the way of war muni
tons and supplies for armies and
nnvics, Coal will be included, prob
ably, especially If destined to port
where 1t can be used for II naval ves
sci
Since the new naval vessels In some
eases burn oil II Is likely oil will be-
declared Contrabnnd. Flour Is likely
to be declared contrnhnnd Gold
would be contrnbnnd because Its ship
mcnt would be directly calculated to
swell the war chests of the nations at
odds.
Ordinarily -four or provisions, II
clearly destined to the use of the pop
ulation and not of the army. would
not be held contrabnnd But If there
was any doubt about 1t one OF the
! countries would, of course. seize the
flour In the Russo-JapGncse war, de
spite objections. Russia held -four con
trnbund.
An American vessel in war be
tween England and Germany could
carry any cargo TO Germany. But
England would have the right to stop
the vessel on the high seas and search
IT, If 1t found contrahnnd goods such
goods could b" and wOuld he seized
This country could take no just Of
Tense under the rules Of international
law
IT It was found that the vessel was
seeking 10 got the goods through by
ruse and deception not only the cargo
but the vessel. might be seized.
The situation viii probably be this:
The United States would have the
right to ship goods into the countries
declared blockadcd or into ports which
are besicged. but the blockading coun
tries would have the right Of seizure.
Whether trade was blocked would dc.
pend on the power Of the blockndcrs
In other words a paper blockade Is
not recognized The country that de
cIares II has to make II good WITH
force
nMhI ne MJUEATD I'M KANSAS