Evening star., 1915-05-23
|SAYS j. S. MAY STOP
MUN|T|0N EXPORTS
Senator Hoke Smith Warns
England of Cotton Seiz-
ure ReprisaI.
DECLARES CONGRESS
is READY TO ACT
Argues That London's Handling of
American Shipping Is in Viola
tion of Law.

warning Great Britain that unless
her present course with respect to the
shipments of cotton by Americans to
neutral ports abroad cease. steps will
| be taken. when Congress meets, TO
prevent the exportation of all muni-
tions OF war from this country. Senator
| Hoke smith of Georgia last night is
sued a statement making vigorous
| criticism of the pronouncement by the
British foreign Office of Friday, which
attempted to justify the course of that
country
| i earnestly hope" said Senator Smith.
| that Great Britain will realize this
country cannot permit the notice given
| by her March l. or the order of March
Il, to remain as burden upon our
citizens. Pro- English sentiment in this
| country must yield before the manifest
| injustice of Great Britain to our citi-
| zens.
| AT the las session of Congress there
| was strong sentiment in favor of
stopping the expectation of munitions
| OF war to the allies. Unless this order
| expectation of munitions of war will
| be stopped and the action by Congress
| may go farther.
The statement issued from London
by the British foreign Office Friday
| surprised all familiar with the facts.
and astonshed students Of interna-
| tional law.
1T was gratifying to read the denial
of responsibility for any waiver OF
rights of American citizens issued
| suggestion of the British amba ssador
| that there had been some mistake In
| telegraphic transmission of the British
| statement, or erroneous impression
S,t.l I nm
| don.
| During the winter months Great
| Britain began seizing vessels contain
| ing conditional contraband belonging
| to American citizens. although TINS
| conditional contraband was for use OF
| Inon-combatants when delivered in
| countries which are enemies of Great
Britain.
l. Suppressed the Trade.
| "Our government protested against
this action. Great Britain continued
seizures and suppressed the trade.
March l it was announced by Great
Britain that:
| ".Tbe British and French govern
ments will hold themselves free to de-
tain and take into port ships CARRYING
| goods of presumed enemy destination
| ownership or origin
| March 12 the British government
l
| tail how the notice of March 1 Woulo
| be executed.
| -The British statement of Friday de-
| clares that Great Britain now holds IN
her ports thirty-six neutral snlps ano
| three American vessels. all carrying
| cargoes belonging to American citizens
1t declares that twenty-three OF these
| vessels contain cargoes or cotton Inc
| statement does not inform US as 70
| how many other vessels containing car
| goes belonging to American citizens
have been seized, the cargoes unloaded
and the vessels discharged.
The statement declares that tnese
| vessels were seized under the blockade
measure announced in the statement in
| the London Gazette March IL last
| The British statement of Friday sets
| up a blockade of neutral ports IN 1ust1-
| fcation Of the of the seizure OF non
| contra band goods shipped by American
| citizens to neutral ports
! There is no principle of interna-
| tional law more fully established than
that blockade cannot be made by
belligerent of a neutral port The
| declaration Of London. English and
French law writer's and English and
| French decisions all agree upon this
proposition.
| o. S. Letter to London.
| ..Our own government in a letter to
Great Britain of March 80 calls atten-
ton to the fact that innocent ship
| ments may be freely transported to and
| from the United States through neu-
| tral countries to belligerent territory
| without being subject to contraband
| traffic or British blockade, much less
| to detention or confiscation. This same
| letter by our government declares this
| action by Great Britain to be a dis
tinct invasion of the sovereign rights
| of the nation whose trade and COM
merce is interfered with
| Great Britain has never answered