The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-22
NEUTRAL
International Law Affecting Issues
Raised in the European Conflict.

the law OF nations "A neutral country's
trade with n belligerent is protected
from injury by the other belligerent
when there Is no blockade or when the
blockade is Ineffective. provided the
trade goods are not contraband of war.
In giving this protection the law does
not In the remotest degree regard tho
interests of the consignee belligerent.
nor any possible requirements of hu-
mainly in his behalf, but solely the In
terests of the neutral in behalf of the
neutraIs commerce. Not only are the
belllgerents interests ~disregarded by
that law. but also II will not suffer the
neutral to regard them, nor to regard
the sufferings which non-combatants
might undergo. I say II will not suffer
the neutral. az such. to do either OF
these things. 1t will suffer him To do
either or both of them, and ut once, pro-
vided no becomes "A bclligcrent. Better
stated. he makes himself, either openly
or secretly, "A belligerent by doing either.
He evacuates the neutral position III he
suffers either self-interest or sympathy
20 influence his conduct to the prejudice
OF the other belligerent's scheme for re-
ducing the adversary to submission
Such sympathy may be wholly proper,
even II IL takes the form OF action.
The effect, not of sympathy but OF
sympathetic action. is tina the neutral
~forfeits his neutrality he now acts In
favor of one belligcrent against the
other. and he exposes himself to A war
ranted attack by the other. Since this
part Of the Law OF nations Is not gem
orally understood. let mo repeat It. Tn
sole purpose for which. and the utmost
extent to which. the law protects nom
contraband exported by a neutral to
n belllgerent Is benefit accruing TO the
n~eutrai's trade. OF necessity the law is
herein as coldly husinrsSlike in spirit
and as sheerly material in purpose "a
II - had been framed by non-human
beings.
The neutral's ship. HIS freight. his
export values and his just profits the
law protects to the last nail and the last
penny. As for neutral sympathy with
helligerent suffering. even suffering by
non-combatants. although the neutral IL
left free TO cherish this in fulness and
To talk and write about IL. he L. for
hidden strictly 20 let the sympathy pass
out In any manner into action. Under
m. law OF nations Il would be a. fla
grant an offence for us Americans 20 in
%tcrfere. even IN a manner externally
Tho mos, friendly. with Great Britain's
design 70 reduce Germany to submission
by capturing food exports to her non
,omhatant population. which consists
largely Of women and Childreu-it
would b. an offence AZ fragrant as fpg
rs to Interfere with Gcrmauy's enort
10 bring Great Britain TO submission
through bombs drprprd upon unfor'lHrd
places, thus killing or wouudluE non
oumbstauts consisting IN part " women
and children OF with Germany tor
V"do.ng British merchant vessels 81 a
sudden without "a sure r.s.u" NJ the
passengers and crew ur with h,r of.
forts t. bring Belgium to submission ht
military eNact.ous from the starving
uou-ruWhH'aut population, "r 10y tn'lict-
,ng capital or lessor punishment upon
u-on-comht'art BolgiauS who seek go
escape starvation 10y fleeing into othor
.lUn'rlCs.
Indeed under M" law - nations W
Americans nav" uo night e" Insist that
The Germans suffer to- 'tt.e rrougu
their Gordon the prov sion. Wh,u W..
are sending into Belgium. rot ln ori'r
TO earn reign and MAX, a profit, but
Icy way of charity u the Germans
should fan - SEQ their own interest.
military ur political. in pcrwitt.nr thes.
charitable contributions so pass through,
hut should seize them. paying MS value
w. Eht and rroits. the law Of nations
wouli uphold the ,rt THAT lew re-
strains VS. from interfering with tine
Germans precisely as 4 restraints uS
from interfering with the Rrit'sh.
The sole restraint, however, lies
in its declaring that any intcrfor-
ence makes ~ cease 20 l., ucutrals AMI
converts us into a bell grr'ut. Iul..
;hat law a fight Is always 70 froo fight.
and every GppDf4ftr is At ll. Tfv. O.. one