Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-11

these ground for OBTAINING any ship
carrying cotton; but should wo have
information giving US real reason to
believe In the case OF particular ship
that tho bales OF cotton concealed con-
per or other contraband the only WAY
to prove our case would be 70 examine
and weigh tho bales: process that
could be carried out only by bringing
the vessel into n port. In such a case.
or II examination justified the action
OF His Maiesty's government. tho case
shall be brought before n prize court
and dealt with In the ordinary NAV.
COURT DECISIONS NOT
UNAVOIDABLE TO NEUTRALs
That the decisions OF British prize
courts hitherto havo not been unfavor-
able to neutrals Is evidenced by the
decision In the SIiramichi case This
case, which was decided against the
crown, laid down that the American
shipper was to be paid even when he
had sold cargo, G. /. f.. and when the
risk of losses after the cargo had been
shipped did not apply to him at all.
1T has further been represented to
His Ma1esty's government, though this
subject is not dealt with in Your Excel
lency's note, that our embargoes on tho
export Of some articles. more especial
ly rubber. have interfered with com
mercial interests In the United States
IT Is, OF course. difficult for His
Majesty's government to permit tho ex-
port or rubber from British dominions
TO the United States at n time when
rubber Is essential to belligerent coun-
tries for carrying on the war, and
when new trade In exporting rubber
from the United States in suspiciously
large quantities to neutrS. countries
has actually sprung up since the war.
it would be impossible to permit the
export of rubber from Great Britain
unless the right of His Majesty'a gov
eminent were admitted to submit to Il
prize court cargoes Of rubber exported
from the United States. which they be-
lievcd to be destined for an enemy
country. and reasonable latitude of &C
tion for this purpose were conceded
But His Majesty's government have
now Professionally come to an arrange
ment with tho rubber exporters In
Great Britain, which will permit Of
licenses being given under proper
guarantees for the export Of rubber to
the United States.
NATION CONFRONTED
WITH GROWING DANGER
1--WE are confronted with the growing
danger that neutral countries contigu-
Gus to the enemy will become on n scale
hitherto unprecedented a base of sup
plies for the armed forces of our
enemies and for materials for nnanufac-
turing armament. The trade figures of
imports show how strong this tendency
Is. but we have no complaint to make
of the attitude OF the governments OF
those countries, which, so far as we arc
aware, have not departed from proper
rules of neutrality. We endeavor In
the interest OF our own national safety
to prevent this danger by intercepting
goods really destined for the enemy
without interfering with those which
arc bona hde' neutral.
"Sincc the outbreak Of the war, the
government of tho United States have
: changed their previous practice and
have prohibited the publication of mani
| tests till thirty days after the depart
ure of vessels from tho United States
ports. We had no locus standi' for
complaining OF this change. and did not
complain. But the effect Of 1t must be
to increase tho difficulty OF ascertaining
the presence OF contraband, and to rem
der necessary In the interests OF our
national safety the examination and de-
tention Of more ships than would have
| heen the case IL the former practice
| had continued.
| pending n more detailed reply, T
would conclude by saying that His
| Majesty's government do not desire to
contest the general principles OF law
on which they understand the note Of
! tho United States to be based, and desire
to restrict their action solely to inter-
| ferencos with contraband destined for
| tho enemy. His Majesty's government
are prepared, whenever cargo COM
Ing from the United States is detained.
to explain the case on which such de-
tention has taken place, and would
| gladly enter into any arrangement by
which mistakes can be avoided and
reparation secured promptly when any
injury to the neutral owners of q ship
or cargo has been improperly caused,
for they are most DESTROYS In the in
terest both Of tho United States and OF
other neutral countries that British
| action should not Interfere with the
normal importation and use by the neu-
trail countries OF goods from the United
States.
1T have the honor to be. with the
highest consideration. Your Excellency.s
most obedient humble servant.