Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-16
full TEXT Of PRESIDENT WILSON'S
NOTEOF WARNING D6REATBRITAIN

/ ruleo 10 neutral ear9oeS.
For example, a shipEent OF copper
/ from the country to a specified con.
signee in Sweden was detained be.
cause, as was stated by Great Britain,
Sweden had placed no embargo on
copper. On the other hand, Italy not
only prohibited the export OF copper
but, as this Government is informed.
put In force decree that shipments
! to Italian consignees or ito order
which arrive in ports of Italy cannot
be exported or trandshipped. The
only exception Italy makes is Of cop
per which passes through that country
In transit to another country. -
Refuse to Let Copper Co.
I'm spite Of these DEGREES, however,
I the British Foreign Office has thus
far declined to affirm that copper
shipments consigned TO Italy will not
be molested on the high seas. Seiz-
ures are so numerous and delays so
prolonged that exporters are afraid to
send their copper to Italy, steamship
lines decline to accept 1t and insur-
lars refuse to issue policies upon it. In
q word, a legitimate trade 10 being
greatly impaired through uncertainty
az to the treatment which II may ex.
pect at the hands of the British au-
thorities.
I'VE. feel that, we are abundantly
justified in asking for information as
to the manner IN which the British
Government proposes 10 carry out the
policy which they have adopted, In or
der that we may determine the steps
necessary to protect our citizens en-
gagged In foreign trade in their rights
and from the serious losses to which
they are liable through ignorance of
the hazards to which their cargoes
are exposed.
"ln the case Of conditional contra.
band the policy Of Great Britain ap-
pears to this Government to be equal
Iy unjustified BY the established rules
Eof international conduct.
"As evidence Of this. attention is
directed to the fact that a number of
the American cargoeS which have
been seized consist of foodstuffs and
other articles of common use in all
countries which are admittedly rela-
tive contraband. In spite of the pre-
sumption of innocent use because de-
|stined to neutral territory. the British
authorities made these seizures and
Idetentiens without, so far as we are
informed, being In possession Of facts
which warranted reasonable belief
that the shipments had In reality a
-belligerent destination. as that term
ifs used in international law.
Damages Not Enough.
aMere suspicion ID not evidence and
doubts should be resolved In favor Of
neutral commerce, not against II. The
tween neutral nations resulting from
interrupted voyages and detained car
goes is not entirely cured by reim-
bursement of the owners for the dam
ages which they have suffered, after
investigation has failed to establish
an enemy destination. The injury is
to American commerce with neutral
countries as whole through the haz-
ard of the enterprise and the repeated
diversion of goods from established
markets.
1T also appears that cargoes of this
character have been seized by the
British authorities because of belief
that though not originally so intended
by the shippers, they will ultimately
reach the territory of the enemies of
Great Britain. Yet this belief Is fire.
quentIy reduced to a mere fear in
view Of the embargoes which have
been decreed by the neutral countries
to which they are destined on the
articles composing the cargoes.
That a consignment To Order of
articles listed as conditional contra
band and shipped to neutral port
raises q legal presumption Of enemy
destination appears to be directly con-
trary to the doctrines previously held
by Great Britain, and thus stated by
Lord Salisbury during the South Afri-
can war:
'sFoodstuffs, though having a
. hostile destination can be consid-
cred asAcontraband of war only If
they are for the enemy forces.
It is not sufficient that they are
capable of being so used. it must
U0 SuOWu that tuIS was III ldCI
their destination at the time of
their seizure.
"With this statement az to condi-
tional contraband the Views Of this
are In entire accord, and
upon this historic doctrine, consist
emily maintained by Great Britain
when beIIigerent as we'll as neu-
trail, American shippers were entitled
to rely.
'.The Government of the United
States readily admits the full right of
a belligerent to visit and search on
the high seas the vessels of American
citizens or other neutral vessels car.
rying American goods and to detain
them when there is sufficient evil
dence to justify belief that contra
band articles are In their cargoes, but
His Majesty's Government. judging by
their own experience IN the past, must
realize that this Government cannot
without protest permit American ships
or American cargoes to be taken into
British ports and there detained for
the purpose of search generally for
evidence Of contraband, or upon pre-