The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-21
CONDITIONAL CON-
TRABAND" MUST GO
Before Negotiations Between the United
States and Great Britain Amount
To Anything, Says John
Bassett Moore.

/ ~ any lhAhs, 1"yS JoN
Bassett Moore.
S. Louis, Jan. 2l.--John Bassett Moore
former counsellor of the state depart.
ment, in an address before the second an
nual foreign trade convention to-day on
Problems of War and Commerce" as
serted that the pending negotiations be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain in regard to the right to visit and
search and British Interference with
American ships and eargoes could result
in nothing better than a makeshft that
the points at issue could be settled only
by the abolition of conditional contra
band" and the cooperation of neutrals
and belligerents in the eertifieation OF
cargoes.
OF the belligerent's right of visit and
search, he said, "The impulse of the bel
ligerent is to cut off his enemy altogeth-
er and to prevent him from getting any
thing from the outside. The neutral on
the other hand naturally desires that his
trade should not be unduly hampered by
an armed conflict to which he is not
party.
cat the present moment a negotiation
ia in progress between the United States
and Great Britain in regard to the exer-
else OF the right Of visit and search, par
ticularly Ia relation TO the question OF
contraband. The representations of the
United States are friendly in tone but
were evidently inspired by the desire 10
reach an arrangement which should be
duly considerate of the interests Of All
of belligerents and neutrals
alike. But, no matter what arrange
ment may be made. IL can. in the present
state Of the law, hardly be expected 20
be a more than a makeshift. The ques-
ton required for its eventual adjustment |
A more radical solution than any Of the |
attempted In recent years
have afforded"
Mr.. Moore said that the movement of 4
American commerce to-day was uy grace
If British control Of the sea. "if," he
"instcad Of the naval su
,remacy now exercised in It's own inter
ST aud that Of it, allies by the largest
consumer Of our agricultural productions
md foodstuffs, the control Of the seas
we're actually contested by powerful hos
lie fleets, il is almost appalling 20 re-
lert upon what might BE- the present
tate OF our commerce. The bare sug
,estion Of such a predicameHt justifes
Il in giving 10 the subject our most Sc
ious consideration. for we must look 20
he future a. well AZ 10 the present
The position Of the United States has
zen clear and unequivocal for more than
90 years and had sought 60 exclude al
0gether from the category Of eontraband
9th raw materials and foodstuffs. He
nplained the position Of this country a
ne second Hague conference in 1907. in
ehalf Of a general international agree
rent a. 20 contraband. and the defeat ~
be proposition following the lead Of
Ireat Britain's delegates headed by lord
'eay. According 60 this proposition
conditional contraband" was 10 econ
III 81 provisions. material. and articles
.hich are employed for q double pur
Gee. in peace and IN war but which. BY
aason ~ their character. quality and
uautity are available and necessary Tor
ilitary purposes. and which are de-
med for the use of armed forces or for
be military establishments Of the en-
nv"
Mr.. Moore said Lord Reay bad been
,ore prophetic than be- knew when De-
1inted Is the futility 81 attempting %
revert beIlinerents from obtaining she
uuifions thev needed. and the difficulty
a. asHa
md. HtF reason q the inercase in the
.nnsFs 81 ships. Tie carrying Of miNed
.feues the latk of auy single aestlna-
% a. ship 81 earcn ths multiplication
ths rumifr af srtieles used In war
% fi'f development 1T failwaEs aud
hfr means az Transportation 81 had.
A sclmti0n uausf in ms opinion. AH
az inuaa - suurtf d not in the sheli-
81 q tfs rrfnrirlf n cnutrahanA nt
81 rate IN sac adoption nf plan EN-
acinR COL tls aiaitior of conditional
ntretnnd nrd ~ srrr Hst haRnE
IN arrsei nfsu iH fie eu-n7arntfnr ~
nffais anf lslirfrtrts - tiss esft ihee.
pns uf tfss auraarts af eafruas So taat
{ riat 81 rerturf ntf D openly i1rnr
tlfnsf niu mas fn'untnrF assurF
8 aarnasiHr 'saas5s mnl leta1.tians
mere - hsnr3 n.
T1f asua urtsiae teFr5ta-aai. uatars#
! ths rern5nf 81 usF e. nstints 81
.E surE uunf rf tiau hss 80 rigid
rsndef the uaa I'll ttat hrtNaf in
b Feu asrs rrm fn rt rfe as
{ rant seTrrt 81 t1e biuwrr ur rH
Hes Hf m Eu Fs nta
~ rrs A. re*e ~ uH5sw
= uuHs - narnsaa6 as ne nfraetH
80 rr urHsr i at lhrr 81 Haue-
.te