TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-08-23

the world TO res 10 ~ io@~
springbok case shall not be exAsss
rated and falsely erpoundsd IND
precedent for the destruction OF COM
merce between neutral nations In
times OF war, certainly not BY that
nation whose maievolent neutrality
during the period OF our civil var
produced the case.
That the meaning Of the Inag-
ment In the springbok case was
such as have stated II. ana ths' :"
was the meaning attached 10 II oy
the chief justice himself VINO pro-
nounced the judgment. Is SIN fur
thcr sustained and manifested by
the judgment in the Petsrhof case
announced Immediately sfterward.
at the same term Of the court, and
By the same justice. On suspicion
that she had on board contraband OF
war destined for the insurgents IN
Texas. the British merchantman.
Peterhof, bound from London TO
Aatamoras In Mexico. was over
hauled by a warship Of the United
states and taken into a port OF the
United States.
The court found that the msr-
ehantman was carrying contraband
Of war intended by the shfppers OF II
for tho inHurgentsi that she was also
carrying non on-contraband cargo. part
OF which belonged TO the owners OF
tho contraband articles. that the
owners Uf the ship were also In part
the owners Of the cargo and had
knowledge OF the destination OF all
parts OF tho cargo. and TINT Mata-
moras, hardly q stones throw away
from the American boundary and
reached from the sea only by means
OF river bioekaded at its mouth oy
the forcas Of the United States. was.
nevertheless. q neutral port. not sub
iect 10 the blockade.
On the basis Of these findings the
Judgment OF the court ordered the
release Of the strip and the condem-
nation Of the contraband cargo and
such part OF the non-contraoand
cargo as belonged TO the owners OF
the eontrnband articles Tho chief
justice declared expressiy that the
BLOCKADE imposed By the United
States ala not extend 10 the neutral
port Of Matamoras: that he knew OF
no judicial prccedent for extending
blockade by construction; that
trade betw London and Msfsmo-
ras, even with intent to supply. from
Mstamorns. goods 10 Texas. Violated
no blockade and that ooutraband
articles. 'ff really intended for sale
in the MARKET Of Matxmoraa. would
be free Of Liability. that h. free
from confiscation.
Law a on Our Hde.
II 10 thus oompletafy manifest tina.
the Judgment Of the court In both o,
these cases rests upon ths principle
Of international Law which warrants
beiIissrent wnrship TO halt and
search neutral merchantmen ON the
high seas on suspicion that Il IN car
rying eoutraband Of was originally
intended for the enemy Of ths bel
Iigsrent government. either By direct
delivery or by transhipmsnt. and TO
secure confiscation Of the oontraband
with all of Its legal consequences by
taking the neutral msrchantman
with It's cargo into port of the bel
ligerent country and delivering II In
to the Jurisdiction of q regular prize
court, md that these judgments do
not furnish In the slightest degree
precedents for 8ockading neutral
ports or interfering with trade In
non-contrRbAnd articles between
neutral and the nemy Of the inter
tcring beliigersnt through neutral
ports. or even with trade In con-
trhband articles when originally con
signed. bona fide. to an inhabitAnt OF
the neutral country and sold In It's
markets.
II Is most irritating that Great
Britain. Of all the countries In tho
world. should endsayor 10 twist and
Dreyert these judgments into such
precedent. II was her own indirect
ions. her own sinister deeds and tort
uous methods and her own maleyo
lent spirit toward us in our grea.
national peril and extremity which
forced US 20 the limit OF our rights
under international law. And now
for her foreign secretary TO calmly
eNaggerate and erroneousiy expound
these judgments and throw them In
TO our faces as rofutation OF our con-
tention for the rights OF neutral COM
nlerce is the audacity Of eondsseen-
sion. Great. however, as IL his self
assurance. he manitests . conscious
meas Of the weakness OF his position
in at least one particular.
nux nrntas&. a.. fry.o.