The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-01-25

trail vessels voluntarily entering ter
ritorial waters or ports of bellig-
erent become subject to municipal
laws. Only two cases in which Amer
lean vessels have been searched on
the high seas by belligerent warships
for German and Austrian subjects
have been reported, and both have
been followed by vigorous representa-
lions to the offending governments.
Much confusion has arisen, the letter
asserts, over the charge that the
United States has abandoned the prin-
ciples for which this country went to
war in 1872. The impressment of
American seamen by the British navy
in times of peace, it is asserted, in
wolves different principle" from the
search for reservists in times of war,
though the latter has not been per-
mitted without protest.
NO coNTRABAND RULES.
a. Submission without protest to
British violations of the rules record
ing absolute and conditional contra
band as laid down in the Hague con-
ventions, the Declaration of London
and International Law" There is no
general agreement between nations as
to articles to be regarded as contra
band, the rights of neutrals and bel
ligerents being opposed and no tri-
bunal existing ito which questions of
difference may be submitted"
(5) "Acquiescence without protest
to the inclusion of copper and other
articles in the British lists of absolute
contraband." It is here stated that
every seizure of American copper has
been followed by a prompt protest,
and that the inclusion Of "unwrought
copper in the list of absolute contra
band is under consideration, though
the government necessarily finds
some embarrassment N dealing with
the subject because of declaration
by the United States in the past plac-
ing "all articles from which ammuni-
ton is manufactured" on it's contra
band list, including copper among
such materials.
(61 Submission without protest to
interference with American trade to
neutral countries in conditional ,snd
absolute contraband." History shows,
says the letter, that, in every war the
superior naval power has interrupted
neutral commerce more or less, but
those who complain are referred to
the American note Of protest of De-
cember 26th dispatched to Great Frit-
ain.
Cd Submission without protest to
interruption of trade in conditional
contraband consigned to private per-
sons in Germany and Austria, thereby
supporting the policy of Great Britain
10 off oil "
and Austria" Again, the letter calls
attention to the note of December rs
to the British government contending
for the principle Of freedom of trade
in articles Of conditional contraband
not destined to the belligerent forces"
(S) Submission to British inter-
ference with trade in petroleum, rub
Der, leather, wool, etc" As petroleum
can be used in propelling submarines
and rubber is essential for big motors
used by armies, the United States gov
eminent has not yet reached the con-
clusion that they are Improperly in
cluded in a list of contraband"
SELLING WAR MUNITIONS.
90 THE United States has not in
terfered with the sale to Great Brit
ain and her allies of arms, ammuni-
ton, horses, uniforms. and other mu-I
nitions Of war, although such sales
prolong the conflict
No obligation, it is contended, exists
either in international law or In the
domestic law of the United States to
prohibit private trade in these ar
ticles.
In the past, the present be1ligerents
when neutrals maintained no such
prohibition, '.in fact it is only neces-
sary to point to the enormous quanti-
ties of arms and ammunition fur
nished by manufacturers in Germany
to the beIligerents in the Russo Jap
anese war and in the recent Balkan
wars to establish the general recogni-