The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-20
GREY FIRM ON RIGHT
TO HOLD FOOD CARGO


have II both ways. II they consider
themselves justified In destroying by
bombardinent the lives and property OF
the peaceful civilian inhabitants of Eng
llsh open tow ms and watering places and
IN seizing and sinking ships n cargoes
OF conditional contraband on their way
thithcr. on the ROUND that they are CON
signed to "A fortified place or base. "A
f%ortiori. his Majestiy's Government must
bt at liberty to treat Hamburg, which is
fn par protected by Qualifications al the
mouth of the Elbe. as a fortified town
and base of operations and supply for
the purposes OF Article "a Of the Decla-
ration OF London.
In Prize Court.
IF the owners of the cargo of the
NtIhelmina desire to question the
validity in international law of the ac.
ton taken by order of his Majesty's
ioteruncnt they viii have every op-
p%ortunity of establishing their case N
Que course before the prize court. and
his Majesty's Government would in this
connection recall the attention OF the
United states Government TO IN, con.
sluerations put forward In Sir Edward
GreN's note to Mr. Page OF IN, foth
INST. as to the propricty of awaiting In,
result OF prize court proceedings before
''plolldtl' action IL initiated. 1t viii
ne remembered that they have from the
outset given definite assurance tina. the
owners OF the Wilhclmiua as well as IN.
owners of her cargo, il found TO he con.
would be epuitablv iudemniasd
mere ~ ono further observation 10
which his Maiesty's Government, ,hin,
u right M appropriate in the present
connection to give expression. They
MOI so Tar declared foodstuns 10
ne absolute co%ntraband they have not
win any neutral vessels on
account or their carrying foodstufTs. en-
cept on basis Of such foodstur, being
liable TO capture II destined FOR enemy
forces or Governments. In so acting
'hey nave been guided by the general
principle. of late universally upheld by
nations and observed I'm prac-
tice. that the civil populations uf cnun-
tries ae war are not to he exposed ~
treatment rightly reserved for ooin-
patants. This distinction has to all
intents and purposes been swept, away
by the novel doctrines proclaimed and
acted upon by tho German Government.
1T IL unnecessary here to dwell upou
the treatment that has been melted out
10 tho civil population of Belgium and
to those parts ~ France which are in
occupation. When Germany.
long befor" any mines had been laid by
~ hhNll'llAlfN. IibtttItd 10
SOW mines upon the high seas. and by
this means sunk a considerable num-
not only of British but also neutral
merchantmen. with their unofending
crews. 1t was. so his Majcsty's Govern
lnent hold. open to them to take retail
Iatnry measures. ever II such measures
of a kind to involve pressure OF
civil population-not. indeed, OF
States. but Of their enemies. :
They refrained from doing SO.
"When subsequently English towns
and defenceless British SUBJECTS. in
'luding women and children. were .e-
iberately and systematically fired upon
and killed by shins flying the flag OF tho
German navy when quiet coun-
ny towns and villages. old of defences
and possessing 10 military or naval inn
were bpmbarde1 by German
,irships. his Majestv's Government still
from drawing the logical
consequences from this Form OF attack
m defenceless citizens