The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-11

two hundred and seventy-one thou
sand pounds. Nineteen fourteen.
Thirty-iive million three hundred and
forty-seyen thousand pounds
Justifes Action.
With such figures the presumption
Is very strong that the bulk of COP
per consigned to those countries has
recently been intended. not for their
own use. but for that OF a belligerent
who cannot import IL direct. II Is
therefore an imperative necessity for
the safety OF this country while Il is
az war that His Majesty's government
should do all in its power TO stop
such part OF this import OF copper as
is not genuinely destined for neutral
countries.
Your Excellency does not quote
any particular shipment OF copper to
Sweden which has been detained.
There are. however. four consign-
ments TO Sweden at the present time
OF copper and aluminium which
though definitely consigned 20 Swed-
en-, are. according to positive owl
dence in the possession of His Ma
Jesty's government. definitely des-
tined for Germany.
II cannot believe that, with such
figures before them and in srNh cases
as those just mentioned. the govern
ment OF the United State would
question the propriety Of the action
OF His Majesty's government in TAX
ing suspected cargoes to a prize
court and we are convinced that IL
cannot be in accord with the wish
either OF the government or the peo-
pie OF the United States to strain the
international code in favor OF private
interests so as to prevent Great Brit
ain from taking such legitimate
means for this purpose as are in ner
power.
As TO Foodstuffs.
With regard to the seizure OF food.
stuffs to which you. ExceIlency re
fer. his majestys government is
prepared TO admit that foodstuffs
thould not be detained and put into
prize court without presumption
that they are intended for the armed
forces OF the enemy OF the gov.
eminent. We Deliev. that this rule
has been adhered to in practice here.
tcfore. but, II the United States gov.
eminent have instances to the con.
trary. We are prepared TO examine
them. and IL is our present Intention
to adhere TO the rule though we can
not give an unlimited and uncondI.
tional undertaking in view OF the de.
psrture By those against whom we arn
fighting from hitherto accepted rules
OF civilization and humanity and IN.
certainty as to the extent which such
rules may be violated by them in fu.
ture"
only Few Held Up.
From the fourth Of August last. 10
the third OF January. the number OF
steamships proceeding from the
United States for Holland. Denmark.
Norway. Sweden and Italy has been
seven hundred and seventy-three. OF
these there are fOrty.five which have
had consignments or cargoes placed
In the prize court, while OF the ships
themselves. only eight have been
placed In the prize court. and one
OF these has since been released. II
Is. however. essential under modern
conditions that. where there f. real
ground for suspecting the presence Of
contraband. the vessels should be
brought into port for examination.
In no other way can the right OF
search be exercised. and but for this
practice II would have 70 be com.
Dletely abandoned Information was
received by us that special instruc-
tons had been given 70 ship rubber
from the United States under another
designation 10 escape notice. and such
cases have occurred IN several in.
stances. only by q search in port
can such cases when suspected. be
discovered and proved. The necessity
Tor examination IN a port may be illus.
trated by hypothetical instance, con.
necied with cotton. which has not
yet occurred Cotton is not she.
cihcally mentioned In your Excel.
lency's note. but ! have seen public
statements made in tho United states
That the attitude ~ his Maicafv'a GOV.
eminent With rerard 10 cotton haa
boon ambiguous. and thereby rcspon.
sible for depression IN tho cotton
trade There has never been any
foundation for fh.s allegation
Cotton Not contrsbsnd.
TITS maieEty's government has
never put cotton on the list Of contra.
band they have throughout the war
kept o. on he free list. and on every
occasion when Questioned on the point
hey have stated their intention Of
adhnrinE 90 This practice But infor.
nation has reached us that. precisely
because We have declared our inten.
ton OF not interfering with cotton.
ships carrying cotton will b. specially
collected TO carry concealed contra.
hcnd, and We have hrcn warned that
copper viii be- concealed in haies -
cotton. Whatever suspiciors We have
entertained Ne have not so Far made
these ground fur OBTAINING any ahla
carving cotton but should wr have
Information Swing ue real reason fo
LlL-n-n LI LMn rase n D naIILrular chin