Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-01


upon 1t.
ain word a legitimate trade lie being
greatly Impaired through uncertainty as
to thetreatment which II may expect at
the hands Of the British authorities.
1--WE feel that we are Rbundantly JUS
titled in asking for information as to the,
manner in which the British Government
proposes to carry out the policy which
1t has adopted In order that we may
determine the steps necessary to pro-
tect our citizens engaged 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.
CoNTRABAND QUESTION.
'1n the case Of conditional contraband
the policy of Great Britain appears to
this Government to be equally unjustihed
by the established rules OF international
conduct. AS evidences 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 relative contraband.
In spite of the presumption of innocent
use because destined to neutral territory,
the British authorities made these seiz-
ures and detentlons without. so far as we
are informed being in possession of facts
WHICH ~ TCdHOudblb pchtl Nhdt
the shipments had in reality belligerent
destination. as that term is used In inter-
national law. Mere suspicion Is not evil
dence, and doubts should be resolved in
favor of neutral commerce, not against II,
The effect upon trade In these articles be-
tween neutral nations resulting from In
terrupted voyages and detained cargoes
is not entirely cured by reimbursement
of the owners for the damages which they
hav after invaatipn finn has
failed to establish an enemy destination.
The injury Is to American commerce with
neutral countries as q whole through the
hazard of the enterprise and the repeated
diversion of goods from established mar
kets.
FEAR ENEMY NIGHT BENEFIT
"It also appears that cargoes of this
character have been seized by the British
authorities because of a 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 frequently reduced to
mere fear in view of the embargoes
which have been decreed by the neutral
countries to which they are destined on
the articles comprising the cargoes.
"That consignment to order of ar
ticles listed as conditional contraband
and shipped to neutral port raises a
legal presumption of enemy destination
appears to be directly contrary to the
doctrines previously held by Great Brit
ain and thus stated by Lord Salisbury
during the South African war:
"'Foodstuffs, though having a hostile
destination, can be considered as contra
band of war only II they are for the
they are capable Of being 30 used. II
must be shown that this was In fact
their destination at the time Of their
selzure.'
with this statement as to conditional
contraband the views of this Government
are in entire accord, and upon this his
toric doctrine. consistently maintained by
Great Britain. when a belligerent as we'll
as neutral, American shippers were
entitled to rely.
RIGHT OF SEARCH.
"The Government of the United States
readily admits the full right of belliger-
ent to visit and search on the high seas
the vessels of American citizens or other
neutral vessels carrying American goods
and to detain them when there Is suffi-
Client evidence to Justify a belief that con-
traband articles are in their cargoes; but
his Majesty's Government judging by
their own experience in the past, must
realize that this Government cannot with
out protest permit American ships or
American cargoes to be taken into British
ports and there detained for the purpose
of searching generally for evidence of
contraband or upon presumptions created
by special municipal actions which are
clearly at variance with international law
and practice
"This Government believes and ear
nestly hopes his Majesty's Government
will come to the same belief, that
Of In 10 Ikt,
with the rules of international usage.
which Great Britain has strongly sane
toned for many years will in the end
better serve the interests of helligerents
as well as those of neutrals.
"Not only ls the situation a critical one
10 the commercial interest OF the United
States, but many Of the great Industries
Of this country are suffering because
their products are denied the long.e es-
tabllshed markets In European countries,
which, though neutral, are contiguous 10
the nations at war. Producers and eN-
porters, steamship and Insurance COM
panes are pressing, and not without
reason, for relief from the menace to
Transatlantic trade which is gradually
but surely destroying their business and
threatening them with financial disaster.
RELIES ON FRIENDSHIP.
''rhe Government of the United States.
still relying upon the deep sense Of JUS
tiee OF the British nation which has been
so often manifest In the intercourse be-
tween the two countries during so many
years of uninterrupted friendship, express
es confidently the hope that his Majesty's
Government viii realize the obstacles and
difficulties which their present policy has
placed In the way OF commerce between
the United States and the neutral coun-
tries OF Europe and will instruct its offi-
cials 10 refrain from all unnecessary in
reference with the freedom OF trade be-
tween nations which ara sufferers though
not participants In the present conflict,
and will In their treatment OF neutral
ships and eargoes conform more closely
to those rules governing the maritime re-
lations between belligerents and neutraIs
which have received the sanction OF the
civilized world ana which Great Britain
has ia other wars so strongly and sue
cessfully advocated.
rIn conclusion Il should be impressed
upon his Majesty's Government that the
present condition OF American trade with
the neutral European countries Is such
that X It does not improve Il may en-
gender feeling contrary TO that which
has 50 long existed between the American
ana British peoples. Already Il Is bscom-
ing more and more tha subject Of public
criticism and complaint. There is an In
ereasing belief doubtless not entirely un-
justified. that the present British policy
toward American trade IS responsible for
the depression Ia certain industries which
depend upon European markets.