TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1915-03-12

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that Necessity does net aHufd a good
excuse, and ior my part. u fail o. see.
Why che argument should Pc good
one way and not the othcc We
may iu this case want to consult our
own interest as others have done and
10 my Judgment, wc have 4 right to-
insist upon a list OF free goods sub
sianiially a. "a stood before the war
was declared While l am not a be-
lever IN our ability TO permanently
build up our trade upon the misfor-.
tunes Of other countries. we have
a right 20 take advantage Of the iegiti-
mate conditions that have arisen; and
we must at least have the privilege
to sell TO any nation wish whom we
arc not at war any goods that were
not commonly recognized as contra
band by international rule. Belliger-
ents may be permitted to modify In
ternational Law in SO far as these
notifications affect only the immed-
late contestants. 1t is quite another
thing to have either bclligerent by
declaration or conduct deprive a neu-
trail Of established rights.
More than that. Great Britain has
extended the right OF blockade. She
secures the effect OF an actual block
ade Of German ports, by withdrawing
her fleet to the North Sea, per-
haps even 10 the western coast OF
England, and by taking neutral ships
into her ports upon mere suspicion,
without any such well-dehned grounds
as have heretofore been recognized.
Her trials in her Prize Courts, and
her ultimate purchase of cargoes,
afford no relief. because her course
necessarily results in the discourage
ment and destruction of our com
meree.
\ These are questions that present
themselves to us as citizens; and we
watch the answers that are made be-
cause we are interested in th1 devel-
opnent Of international law and rules
as they are now being formulated. We
have an illustration. There is a ship |
which has been purchased by a citizen
of the u. S. and our Government
has decided that his purchase is
proper and Teqular. That ship has a
cargo confcssediy not within any
Interpretation Of the %contrabrand list.
In other words, by every rule of in
ternational law, and by the decision
which Ii Government has deliber-
atcly made, as | understand it, this
ship has a right to carry that cargo
to a neutral port. We are told that
this ship will be seized because the
sale is questioned. What are we
going to do about il? Two extreme
are possible. Perhaps a
m~an-of-war might 90 with that ship,
with the announcement that whoever
seized one would have to sink the
other. Or we might wait to have
something turn up, and content our
with insuring the cargo for
the time being. One course is as
sure 10 invite trouble as the other.
In my judgment there is a middle
course. There might be a Secretary
of State who would declare in un-
equivocal language that we had de-
tcrmined that this ship has a right
to 90, and that she will go. In such
an event we would not need a man
because the rights to the cargo
are conceded, and the question Of the
shinis hona 6de sale has heen decided