Evening star., 1915-01-31

ENGLISH TRADE EXPERT TO CONFER WITH
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
ss1sT IN All Tn. WoRK EvEM 1]1E1Pu1e ToBwuDEAD

seventh. duplicate of the bill of lading
or acknowledgment of the receipt OF
the goods
If the inspection of the documents
reveals no grounds for suspicion, &C
cording to this same English authority,
and the visiting officer has no ulterior
reason for suspicioning fraud, the yes
sci is allowed to continue its voyage
without further Interruption; IL other
wise, it is subject to an examination
of such minuteness as may be neces-
sary.
Vattels law of nations. another Eng
lish text book, is also quoted by stu
dents of the present question In sup
port of the contention that Sir Edward
Grey erred in asserting the right Oh
England to take neutral vessel INTO
British port for search.
Discussing Vatters conclusions, q
Washington official said that the nights
of belligerents against the dehnquen-
cies of neutrals would exist IN vain II
she were not armed with practicat
power by which these rights may ne
enforced Such power regularly exises,
1t is stated, by the law of nations
.Jt is clear and satisfactory. he says,
.if when making the search the Vesssl
is found employed in contrabanu trace
or in carrying dispatches OF troops. or
engaged in any other illegal cofnInerce'
she may properly be brought tor 30
iudjration IN the court in admiralty. IL,
on the other hand, her commerce ap-
pears to be legitimate, she Is dismissed
without further molestation or incon-
venience.
y 4
The presumption is always in the
neurrars favor, so far as the exemption
of his goods from ultimate seizure is con-
cerned. although during the visit and the
search he is required to show by his
PAPERS his right to proceed unmolested
Tn the American war with Spain John
n Long. Secretary of the Navy. In his
instructions of blockading vessels ana
cruisers drafted by the State Department.
said a belligerent's right of search may
he exercised without previous notice upon
all neutral vessels. even on beginning or
war. to determine their nationality, the
character of their cargo and the ports
between which they are trading.
In referring to the examination to 10
conducted by the officers OF the American
cruiser Secretary Long said that the Of
ficer wearing side arms only, and ac-
companied on board by not more than
two men of his boat crew under arms.
should first examine the vessels papers
10 determine her nationality and her port
of departure and destination.
"1f she is neutral" continued the in
struction, land trading between neutra
tS.
II she is neutral and bound to an enemys
mort not blockaded with papers which In
dicate the character Of her cargo. she
should be examined. If this shows con-
traband of war. the vessel should be
seized !: if not, she should be set free, un-
less by reason of grounds for suspicion
a further search should seem to be
requisite.
has been the consistent position OF
America in every war in which the
United States has been engaged. Tho
Sunreme Court of the United States
during the civil war held that the destina-
tion OF goods rather than the destination
of the ship should be inquired into In
determining liability to capture. II the
result of such inquiry showed that the
goods were destined for a belligerent port.
they were held liable to condemnation
even though the ship was destined to q
neutral port.
The destination of the cargo is one Of
the vital questions in the present contro-
yersy, and American writer's on inter
national law hold that no articles OF
are contraband of war
long as they remain in neutral territory
or are found on the high seas with Q
bona fide neutral destination