The Washington times., 1915-12-10


shipped by them Toto Holland. II is
estimated that fnerchandise OF the
value OF over 500. 900, 900 belonging
70 citizens Of the United States was
arbitrarily. stopped from sailing from
the neutral ports of northern Europe.
Only Two Grounds.
Among other merchandise, ship
ments of dyestuns, 80 essential TO our
factories. were stopped. Shipments
OF potash, necessary In many sections
hor the fertilization OF the soil. were
stopped. German products used for
medicinal purposes were stopped.
have termed the treatment by
Great Britain OF neutral commerce
through the ports OF Holland, l)en-
mark, Norway. and Sweden a blockade.
We must keep in mind the fact that in
terference with the commerce of nou-
trails by belligerents is permitted upon
only two grounds-blockade or the un-
neutral character Of the goods Seizure
on account of the character OF the
goods IL limited to contraband going
TO the military or naval forces of the
enemy. II does not apply to goods
coming from an enemy country. 1t
applies only to a limited character OF
goods going into an enemy country. Yet
Great Britain has ordered the seizure
VI .aN bo0Wh VI tnGIilY OTIkln OF uGHNl~
nation. In carrying this order into
effect Great Britain has restrained ali
shipments to and from the ports OF
Holland, Denmark, Norway, and Swe-
the goods does not limit British seiz-
ures. The course OF Great Britain is
blockade OF these ports, and It is
covered by no belligerent right unless
II falls under the head of blockade.
Senator Smith presented extended ar
guments IN support Of the proposition
that the blockade Is unlawful. He de-
clared the civil war presidents con-
demned Great Britain. He summed up
as follows:
Rules Of COntraband.
A belllgerent cannot add to q list Of
absolute cohtraband any goods which
can be used for other than warlil1e pur-
poses.
Goods properly upon a list Of abso-
Lutte contraband can be seized though
belonging to neutral citizens and sailing
to neutral ports, II shown to be intended
for an enemy country.
Conditional contraband sailing to neu-
trail citizens can not be seized by q bel
ligerent.
Goods neither absolute nor conditional
contraband can pass entirely free from
interference.
Goods sailing to a neutral country,
there to enter the general stock in
trade, and really for sale in the mar
kets of the country would be free OF
liability to seizure.
For a hundred years the relations be.
tween the United States and Great Bri-
tain have been growing closer and
closer. A most cordial regard has united
the people of both countries. But we
are not a dependency Of Great Britain.
Germany has always been a friend OF
the United States, and many of our
best citizens love their Fatherland only
second to their lovo and loyalty for our
own country.
We deplore the terrible war, but the
United States owes IL to her citizens and
to her foreign friends to maintain a real
neutrality.
Neutrais must maintain their neutral
Britain may desire to crush an enemy
nation through the suppression Of trade
but she can have no right of doing II
at our loss, or OF making us the instru.
ment OF IT.
1t may be necessary for the United
States and other neutrals to let Great
Britain understand that no word or
act will be omitted to enforce their
rights.
we may hope Great Britain will COM
ply not alone because she must retain
friendly relations with neutral nations to
supply her own population with the
necessities of life, but because the peo-
pie Of that great nation, and those there
in authority. must desire 10 obey the
rules of international law they have
contributed so much to establish and to
which they are so thoroughly commit