Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-25

port to order from which. as n matter
or TACT. cargoes had been transshippcd
TO the enemy. Is corroborative evidence
that the cargo Is really destined to the
! enemy. instead OF to the neutral port
Of delivery. 1t Is thus seen that some
OF the doctrines which appear to bear
harshly upon neutrals at tho present
| lime arc analogous to or outgrowths
| from policies adopted by the United
States when 1t was a bclliHerent The
government. therefore. cannot consist
emily protest against the application of
rules which 1t has followed In the past.
| unless they have not been practiced rs
| heretofore.
SOME EMBARRASSMENT
ON COPPER SUBJECT
| to) Acquiescence without protest to
/ the Inclusion OF copper and other ar
ticles In the British lists Of absolute
contraband.
| The United States has now under
| consideration the question Of the right
/ OF beliigercnt to include copper un-
wrought In It's list Of absolute con-
| traband instead of in It's list Of con-
! ditional contraband. AS the govern
incnt of the United States has in the
| past placed all articles from which
ammunition is manufactured In Its
! contraband list. and has declared cop
! per to be among such materials. 1t nee
essarily finds some embarrassment in
| dealing with the subject
/ Moreover there is no instance OF the
! United States acquicscIng in Great
! Britain's seizure OF copper shipments
| In every case In which It has been done
vigorous representations have been
! made to the British government and
| the representatives of the United States
! have pressed for the release OF the
| shipments.
DEPARTMENTS RECENT
NOTE IS ANSWER
| 90 Submission without protest to
! interference with American trade to
neutral countries in conditional and
! absolute contraband.
The fact that the commerce OF the
/ United states Is interrupted by Great
! Britnin Is consequent upon the supe-
| riority of her navy on the high seas
| History shows that whenever coun-
/ Try has possessed that superiority, our
/ trad" has been interrupted and that few
articles essential to the prosecution of
/ the war have been allowed TO reach its
( enemy from this country. The depart
I incnts recent note TO the British gov
| crnment. which has been made public.
| In regard to dctentions and seizures OF
a
! complete answer to this complaint.
/ Certain other complaints appear
aimed nj the loss of profit In trade
which must include at least in part
/ trade In contraband with Germany:
while other complaints demand the pro-
! hihition Of trade In contraband which
f., appears to refer to trade with the allies.
! CRITICISM PREMATURE
/ AND uNWARRASTED
10 Submission withou, protest to
/ interruption OF trade In conditional con-
/ traband consigned TO private persons in
/ Germany and Austria. thereby support
! ing the policy OF Grca, Britain to cut off
all supplies from Germany and Austria.
As no American vessel far as
! known has attempted to carry condi-
! tonal contraband TO Germany or AUS
| IRA Hungary, no ground Of complaint
! has arisen out of the seizure or con-
/ dcmnation by Great Britain Of an
! American vessel with a belligerent des-
/ tination. Until case arises and the
| government has taken action upon Il,
! criticism Is premature and unwarrant-
| Ell. The United States in it's note OF
| December IS 20 the British government
I strongly contendcd for the principle of
! freedom OF trade In articles of condi-
tional contrahand not destined to the
! bclligcrcnts forces
DIFFICULTY TO ARGUE
| AGAINST INCLUSION
"'S) Submission 10 British Interior
| cuce with trade in petroleum. rubber
leather. wool, etc.
Petrol and other petroleum products
| have been proclaimed by Great Britain
as contraband of war. In. view OF the
absolute necessity Of such products to
! the use OF submarines, aeroplanes and
! motors. the United States government
has not yet reached the conclusion tina {
| they are improperly included in list
lzF
/ DAY are largely n question OF motive
! power through mechanical devices It
| Is therefore difficult TO argue success
fully against the inclusion OF petroleum
among the articles OF contraband. AS
f, 10 the detention of cargoes OF petro-
| leum going TO neutral countries, this
! government has. thus far, successfully
! obtained the release in every case OF
! detention or seizure which has been
| brought to It's attention
| Great Britain and Franco have
| placed rubber on the absolute contra
! band list and leather on the conditional
, contraband list. Rubber Is extensively
! used in the manufacture and operation
! of motors and. like petrol. is regarded
| by some authorities as essential 10 mo-
/ tive power to-day. Leather is even
| more widely used in cavalry and in
fantry equipment 1t is understood that
| both rubber and leather. together with
/ wool. have been embarEoed by most Of
| the helligerent countries. II will be
recalled that the United States has in
! the past exercised the right OF embargo
upon exports of any commodity which
might aid the enemy's cause.
NO POWER TO PREVENT
SALE OF AMMUNITION
"(9) The United States has not inter
| fered with the sale TO Great Britain and
her allies of arms, ammuniti IN. horses
! uniforms and other munitions of war
although such sales prolong the con-
| nict.
There is no power in the executive
! to prevent the sale of ammunition to
| the belligerents. The duty of n neu-
trail to restrict trade In munitions Of
! war has never been imposed by inter-
national law or by municipal statute
1t has never been the policy of this
government to prevent the shipment Of
arms or ammunition into belligerent
territory, except In the case of neigh
boring American republics, and then
only when civil strife prevailed. Even
to this extent the belligerents in the
/