Evening star., 1915-01-25

/ FTGGQOm
submarine cables versus censored COM
munication by wireless."-It is set forth
first that a wireless station on neu-
trail coast cannot be interrupted by a
belligerent, but the latter has an unre-
stricted right to cut cable on the
high seas. Germany's cutting OF the
British cable near Tanning Island Is
cited to balance Great Britain's inter-
ception Of the cable between Germany
and the United States. The point Is
made that wireless messages can De
| sent direct to warships at sea, which
| can prey upon public or private ves-
sells and make neutral territory vir-
tual1y a base Of naval operations. ito
permit which would be essentially un-
neutral"
cases repeated destruction Of American
leteers on neutral vessels"-Germany
and Great Britain. pursuing their
rights as belligerents. both have CEN
sored private letters falling In their
hands. No evidence has ever been pre-
sented to the State Department that
mail on board Dutch steamers has been
destroyed. as repeatedly charged. Only
few cases have come to the attention Of
the Department where mail from neu-
trail countries has not been finally de-
livered.
3. Searching Of American vessels
for German and Austrian subjects on
the high seas and in territorial waters
| UNFAIRLY entering territorial waters or
ports of a belligerent become subject
to municipal laws. Only two cases in
sh. seas sv
ligerent warships for German and Aus
trian subjects have been reported. and
both have been followed by vigorous
representations to the % offending nnI GOV GOV
| the letter asserts, over the charge that
the United States has abandoned the
principles for which this country went
to war in 1879. The irnpressment OF
in times Of peace, 1t is asserted. sin
wolves q different principle. from the
search for reservists In times OF war.
though the latter has not been per-
mitted without protest
Relates to Contraband Goods.
4. "Submission without protest to
British violations of the rules regard
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 trf-
difference may be submitted"
s. "AcQuiescence without protest
to tho 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 prompt protest, and
that the inclusion of "unwrought cop
per- in the list of absolute contraband
ernment necessarily finds some en-
barrassment in dealing with the sub
ject," because of a declaration by the
United States in the past, placing all
.-N s~I. = tFyR q
manufactured" on its contraband list.
including copper among such materials.
8. Submission without protest to
interference with American trade to
solute contraband'' History shows.
| says the letter. that in every war the
superior naval power has interrupted
neutral commerce moro or less, but
| those who complain are referred to the
American note Of protest OF December
T. Submission without protest to
| interruption of trade in conditional
contraband consigned to private per
sons in Germany and Austria, thereby
to cut of all supplies from Germany
| and Austria" Again the letter calls
| attention to the note of December 20
to the British government contending
in articles of conditional contraband
not destined to the belligerent forces"
8. Submission to British inter
ference with trade in petroleum. rub
can be used in propel1ing submarines
/ and rubber is essential for big motors
! used by armies, the United States gov
| ernmsnt has not yet reached the con-
clusion that they are Improperly in
cluded in a list of contraband."
g. THE United tSates has not inter-
| fered with the sale to Great Britain
| and her allies Of arms, ammunition
horses, uniforms and other munitions
of war. although such sales prolong the
conflict" No obligation. it is contend
ed, exists either in international law
or in the domestic law of the United
| States to prohibit private trade in these
articles In the past the present bel
igerents when neutrals maintained ne
\ such prohibition. I'm fact, it is only
| necessary to point to the enormous
| quantities of arms and ammunition fur
| nished by manufacturers in Germany to
| the belligerents in the Russo-Japanese
war and in the recent Balkan vars to
| establish the general recognition OF the
/ propriety Of the trade by neutral ma
ftion."
No Proof Of Charges.
10. .'The United States has not sup