TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-08-19
BRITISH INTERFERENCE MUST
CEASE.
Georgia Senator Declares Blocking
Neutral Commerce Threatens
Ruin to Americans.
NeutralRights Disregarded
English Order In Council fragrant and
inexcusable Violation OF Inter
national Law.

national Law.
Il New YORK. Before meet
lug OF 500 American merchants and
shippers assembled to protest against
Great Britain's interference with Amer
lean commerce Senator Hoke Smith oi
Georgia delivered the speech Of which
the following is an excerpt. II was the
consensus of opinion among the as
sembIed merchants, expressed in the
form Of a petition 10 the president TO
take notice that Englands blockade OF
the neutral countries OF Holland, Den.
mark, Sweden and Norway is In direct
violation OF International law and
destructive of American commerce.
II was stated that unless the importa-
ton OF goods already paid for from
Germany and Austria be permitted to
come to this country and unless the
United States is allowed to export non
contrabapd goods TO neutral countries
hundreds Of American merchants will
face enormous Losses.
Senator Smith ssidI
"we believe in peace. The United
States stands for peace. II seeks the
territory Of no nation, but We do ask
and demand the privilege of uninter-
rupted trade with al the nations OF the
world. v
All Ameriesn CitiEsna
I'VE have in the United States citi-
zens born in Grest Britain. Il is natn-
Ial that their sympathies should be
with their mother country. No one
should complain at that. We have eiti'
zens in tue United States born in Ger
many. It is natural that their sympa-
thy should be with Germany. No ono
should complain at that. But we are
all citizens Of the United States, and
our nation should be neither pro-Gsr-
man nor pro-ally. But our nation must
be intensely, and every citizen Of our
nation should be intensely. pro.Ameri'
can.
Our commercial grievances have
reference TO the conduct OF Great Brit
ain and her allies. A belligerent has
has no inherent right TO seize on the
commerce of a neutral. A belligerent
has no inherent right 70 seize uon the
ocean q vessel owned by neutral and
loaded with cargo belonging to neutrais.
The customs Of nations and Of interna'
tional law recognize certain specific in
stances in which belligersnts may inter
fcre with such cargoes and such vessels
when the specific interests are well
defined, and beyond that no belligerent
shall be permitted TO 90.
Merchandise 10 classified by interna-
tional law under three heads--one, abb |
solute contrhband--that 10. merehan'
disc intended exclusively for warlike
purpose; two, conditional contraband
that is merchandise which may be
used for belligerent purposes or which
may be used for peaceful purposes. As
to this latter class OF goods. interna-
tional law declares that a belligerent
can only intercept such goods on &C.
count OF their character when destined |
to the military or naval use OF the en-
envy. The third class is noneontrabAnd. !,
Such goods cannot be touched at all.
United states Rights Viol.
ated.
"H was Great Britain that began the
OF our rights in this respect.
Ihe violation began by the seizure OF
ioodstuffs. This was before any block
,de against her enemy ports was inau-
lurated Great Britain had no right N
seize those foodstuffs which were con
iitional contraband.
"Foodstuifs were bringing good prices
It that time, and this invasion Of the
tights Of citizens Of the United States
attracted not great deal Of attention.
L was not very important TO the people
Il large. Those in congress did not
tudy the question there. We did not,
IL a rule, give Il consideration that
T. Importance deserved. take q full
nrt Of the blame for a failure 10 give
he matter proper attention The adj
protested against the ac'
ion, Of course, and there the matter
Iroppsd.