Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-11

extent TO which such rules may be vio-
.ated by them in future.
From the fourth of August last TO
the third Of January, the number OF
steamships proceeding from the United
states for Holland, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden and Italy has been seven hundred
and Seventy-three OF these there are
forty-tve which have had consignments
III cargoes placed in the prize court,
while of the ships themselves only eight
have been placed in the prize court and
one Of these has since been released. II
is however. essential under modern con-
ditions that. where there is real ground
for Suspecting the presence of contra
hand the vessels should be brought into
port fo- examination. In no other way
can the right Of search be exercised, and
hut for this practice II would have to be
completely abandoned.
Information was received by Us that
special instructions had been given TO
ship rubber from the United States under
another designation TO escape notice and
suc lcases have occurred in several in
stances. Only by search in port can
such cases. when suspected. be discoV-
cred and proved
The necessity for examination IN a
port may also be illustrated by hYpo-
thetical instance. connected with cotton
when has not yet occurred. Cotton is
not Specifically mentioned in Your Excel
lency's note, but ! have seen public
statement made in the United States that
the attitude o. His Majesty's government
with regard TO cotton has been amplsu-
oue AND thereby responsible for depfes-
sion in TIE cotton trade.
..'~her.. rG~ nt reY beer any foundation
for mis- allegation. His Majesty's gov
eminent has never put cotton on the
lis, Of contraoand. they have throughout
ITO war kert II on the free list, ana OF
very occasion when questioned on The
po.u,. they have stated heir intention Of
al. 4riag 10 t'.ls practice. Bul i1forma-
tor has rca -hed u that precisely he
cause we have declared our intention o.
uot interfering with cotton. ships carry
rs cotton VIII he specially selected 70
carry concealeI contrahand and We have
peeu wa~uea ina; copper vii be conceal
cd II 1ales of cotton. Whatever sus-
TiCiOu We have entert aimed. We have not
50 far made these q ground Tor detain-
irc anN snip carrying cotton. but should
We have information giving Us real rea-
SOY 10 believe IN tho case OF partcu-
In" shin that The bales oE cotton con-
ceale5 copper or other contraband. the
Only way 40 prove our case would be to
Examine and weigh the bales; a process
that could be CARRIED out only ny bring
ins the vessel INTO Il porr In such d case
or il examination JUSTIFIED m action o.
His Majesty $ government. The case
sha- he breusa1 oetore q prlze court
and dealt with N the ordinary way.
That The decisions Of British prize
courts hitherto have not beer unfavor-
able 10 neu-rais is evidenced by the
decision IL the Mramichi case. This
casA, which was decided against the
Crown, laid down that the American ship
per was 10 be paid even when he had
sold 2 cargo and when the risk o. loss
after the cargo had been shipped did not
Apply 10 him At all.
1T has further been represented TO
His Maiestys government, though this
subject is not dealt with in Your Excel
lencYS note that our emh2rCoes on the
export Of some articles more especially
on rubber have interfere1 with the com
nerci9I Interests III the United States
, 1t IS Of course difficult for His Majestys
government to permit the export of rub
Der from British dominions TO the United
States At a time when rubber is essen
tial to beihgerent countries for carrying
on the war. and when a new trade in
exporting rubber from the United States
in suspiciuusly large quantities TO neutral
countries has actually sprung up since
the war. II would be impossible to per
nit the export Of rubber when Great
Britain unless the right OF His Majestys
government We're admitted to submit 10
a prize court cargoes Of rubber exported
from the United States. which they De-
lieved TO be destined for an enemy coun-
try and reasonable latitude of action for
this purpoce were conceded But His
Ma3estys government has now provis-
sionally come to AZ arrangement with
the rubber exporters in Great Britain
which Wi! permit of licenses being given
under proper guarantees for the export
o. rubber TO the United States.
We are confronted with the growing
danger that neutral countries contigu-
Gus TO the enemy will become on e scale
hitherto unprecedented a base of supplies
for the army and soldiers Of our enemies
and neutrals manufacturing armament
The trade figures of imports show how
strong this tendency is. but we have no
complaint 10 make of the attitude of the
governments Of those countries. which
SO far as we are aware have not depart
ed from proper rules OF neutrality. We
endeavor. in the interest OF our own ma
tional safety to prevent this danger by
interceptins goods really destined for the
enenly without interfering WITH those
which are bona fide' neutral
Since the outbreak Of the army. the
government OF the United States have
changed their previous practice and
have prohibited the publication Of
manifests till thirty days after the de-
parture Of vessels from the United
States ports. We had no Locus stand
for complaining of this change and did
not complain. But the effect Of i, must
be to increase the difficulty of ascer@@
tanning the presence of contraband,
and to render necessary in the inter
ests Of our national safety the examin-