The Washington times., 1915-12-10

shipped by them iptn Holland, II is
esiimated that merchandise of the
value OF over 800. 900. 900 belonging
70 citlzens Of the United States was
sarnitrarily stopped from sailing from
'he neutral ports Of northern Europe.
Only Two Grounds.
among other merchandise, ship
ments OF dyestuffs, so essential to our
factories. were stopped. Shipments
OF potash, necessary in many sections
lot the fertilization of the soil, were
stopped. German products used for
medicinal purposes were stopped.
have termed the treatment by
Great Britain of neutral commerce
through the ports of Holland, Den
mark. Norway. and Sweden a blockade.
we must keep in mind the fact that in
reference with the commerce OF neu-
trails by belligerents Is permitted upon
only two grounds-blockade or the un-
neutral character Of the goods. Seizure
on account of the character OF the
goods Is limited to contraband going
TO the military or naval forces of the
enemy. II does not apply to goods
coming from an enemy country. 1t
applies only to a limited character OF
goods going into an enemy country. Yet
Great Britain has ordered the seizure
or all goods of enemy origin or desti-
nation. In carrying this order into
shipments to and from the ports or
Holland, Denmark, Norway, and Swe-
den. The question of the character Of
the goods does not limit British seIz-
blockade of these ports. and 1t is
covered by no belligerent right unless
1t falls under the head OF blockade.
Senator Smith presented extended ar
Rnnanfq 80 hA
that the blockade is unlawful. He de-
clared the civil war precedents con-
demned Great Britain. He summed up
as follows:
Rules Of Contraband.
A belligerent cannot add to a list Of
absolute cohtraband any goods which
can be used for other than warlike pur-
poses.
Goods properly upon a list Of abso-
lutte contraband can be seized though
belonging to neutral citizens and sailing
to neutral ports, IL shown to be intended
for an enemy country.
Conditional contraband sailing to neu-
trail citizens can not be seized by q bel
ligerent.
Goods neither absolute nor conditional
can pass entirely free from
Goods sailing to a neutral country.
there to enter the general stock in
trade, and really for sale in the mar
kets of the country would be free Of
liability to seizure.
For a hundred years the relations be-
tween the United States and Great Bri-
tain have been growing closer and
closer. A most cordial regard has united
the people of both countries. But we
are not a dependency of Great Britain.
Germany has always been a friend OF
the United States. and many Of our
best citizens love their Fatherland only
second to their lovc and loyalty for our
own country.
We deplore the terrible war. but the
United States owes it to her citizens and
to her foreign friends to maintain a real
Neutrals must maintain their neutral
rights to maintain neutrality. Great
Britain may desire to crush an enemy
nation through the suppression Of trade,
but she can have no right of doing It
at our loss, or Of making us the instru-
ment OF IT.
1t may be necessary for the United
States and other neutrals to let Great
Britain understand that no word or
rights.
We may hope Great Britain will COM
ply. not alone because she must retain
riendly relations with neutral nations to
supply her own population with the
necessities OF life. but because the peo-
Die of that great nation. and those there
'ules OF international law they have
so much to establish and to
which they are so thoroughly commit
ed.