The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21
Points Out That No Question of Supplying Food to the
Military Is Involved, Intention Being to
Conserve Supply for Public.

II incumbent upon the importer TO op-
crate through the War Grain Company,
Limited the Central Purchasing Com
pany. Limited. or the communities, In
order that the municipal and communal
officials might keep themselves Informed
concerning the stock Of grain and four
on hand in their districts.
However, this additional sentence.
which was ambiguous. was rescinded
by a supplementary decree of tho Ger
man Federal Council on February 8,
30 that the enactment now stands with
out qualification The provisions Of
tbs ordinance do not apply to grain
aud flour ,ohich are imported from for
et0n countries"
simultaneously with the publication
OF the decree aking possession OF grain
the Federal Council published an an
nouncement of certain regulations in
tended to conserve the meat supply OF
the empire. These regulations directed
cities ana communities of more than
Ave thousand inhabitants TO procure and
lay away preserved meats (cured, timed
and the like) and for this purpose
empowered communities to take over
the ownership OF living pigs. No au-
thority was given them to take posses
sion OF pork or of any kline Of meat
whatever. AS hogs are not shipped
alive to Germany. there can be no
question whatever of this applying to
German imports from America.
Such. then, is the actual language OF
the ordinance which is on every hand
loosely described as the German order
ARna mn al food Co..
use Such, then. IL the decree which
the British Government assumes to EN-
ploy as an xcuse for its defiance OF in
ternational law IA declaring foodstufrs
destined for Germany To be contraband
OF war. and as a Justification In Selling
American ships carrying meat, -four and
fruit for peaceful consumption by the
non-combatant people of Germany.
The cargo Of the American vessel
Wilhelmina, which has been seized by
the British Government. cons sted. so the
commission house which shipped Il has
informed tho Government, of about one-
sixth grain and -four and fve-sixths
other food, not grain or -four. BY no
possible reasoning can hve-sixths Of the
WilNelmina's cargo be said to be
touched by tho German decree. but by
no possible reasoning can any part OF
il be said to come under that decree. for
the decree expressly eNempts all i'm
ported grain.
Further still. II there could remain
any doubt on the subject. 1t would seem
to be removed by the fact that the Ger
man Government has given TO the Amer
lean Government. and the American
Government has communicated to Great
Britain. a guarantee hat foodstuns I'm
ported from neutral countries will he
sold exclusively and directly to the civil
ian population. and in order 70 further
insure this has proposed that n special
American organization be established.
under the control Of the American con-
sulates. for the sale to non-combatants
only OF provisions shipped from Amer
lea.
ny every principle known ~ inter
national law. by the express and explicit
statutes OF the Declaration OF London.
the most authoritative embodiment OF
the maritime law Of nations. enacted ut
an International congress called by Great
Britain. holden In London. using for its
working basis n compilation OF inter
national precedents, DEGREES and mis-
cellaneous documents bearing on the
subject prepared hv the British Gov
errment (the London RED Book" OF
taO9l, foodstufs in transit to the nom
comhatant population Of A hclligcrent
Power are entitled to unchsllenged pas
sage across the seas.
In It's communication to Great Britain
protesting against interference with our