Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-21
WARS PROBLEMS
IN TRADE TALKED
Secretary Redfield Tells Con
vention of Placing Attaches
in Foreign Posts.
EIGHT ALREADY LOCATED
John 5asset Moore Urges Abolition of
Condition Contraband" by
Nations of World.

St. Louis. Mo, Jan. 21.-Problems of
international law in connection with
American commerce during the Euro
pean war were discussed at the second
annual national trade convention to-
day. The principal address was by
John Bassett Moore, former counselor
of the state department. John J. Arm
old Of Chicago spoke on Foreign
Banking. Loans and Credits
Secretary of Commerce Redfield told
the convention about the work of the
department of commerce in promoting
foreign trade and said he had station
ed eight commercial attaches abroad
and that one is about to so to Petro-
grad and one 10 Melbourne.
Mr.. Moore spoke on Problems of
war and Commerce" He asserted /
that the pending negotiations between /
the United States and Great Britain /
in regard to the right to visit and
search and British Interference with |
American ships and cargoes could re
suit in nothing better than a make /
shift; that the points at issue could /
he settled only by the abolition Of
conditional contraband," and the CO..
operation Of neutrals and belligerents
in the certification of caTgOes.
or the belligerent's right of visit and
search, he said The impulse OF the
is to cut of mis- enemy al
together and to prevent him from get
ting anything from the outside. The
neutral. on the other hand naturally
desires that his trade should not be
UnduIy hampered by an armed con
hict 20 which he is nos q party.
More Radical Solution.
at the present moment a neg0tia-
lion is in progress between the Unit,
ed states and Great Britain in regard
10 the exercise OF the right of visit
and search. particularly in relation tol
he question of contra band. The rep
-esentations of the United States are
friendly in tone, but were evidently
Inspired by the desire to reach an
.greemeut which should be duly con
I'd rate CT the interests OF ali con
'erned. of lelljgereEts and neu-rals
like. But no matter what arrange
ncnt may be made, il can. in the pres
mt state OF the law. hardly be expect
d TO be more than "a makeshift- The -
question requires for its eventual ad- =
q more radical solution than =
my - the compromises attempted in -
ecent years have Afforded"
Mr.. Moore said that the movement :.
f American commerce today was by
race of English control Of the sea r
IT," he continued. instead OF the :
avail supremacy now exercised in its
wn interest and that of its allies by
he largest consumer OF cur agricultur-
productions and foodstufs, the con a
-ol of the seas were actually contest Fl
by powerful hostile fleets, it is al Wy
lest appalling To reflect upon what 10
light he the present state of our fc
The bare suggestion OF 81
lch a predicameut justifes Us in 81
wing to the subject our most serious
lnsideration, for we must lock to the =
iture as well as to the present
The position OF the United States
ad been clear and unequivocaI for
ore than one hundred years and had
,ught TO exclude altogether from the W
-tesory OF conua5and both raw ma ps
rails and foodstuhs He explained w
s position OF this country at The be
ccnd Hague conference in 1907. in al
half Of general international is
reement as to contraband. and the ex
fsat of the proposition following the 81
ID of Great Britain's delegates head fc
by Lord Reay. According to this mi
OPPOSITION conditional cCntraband" az
IS to consist CT provisions. mater Ri
S and articles which are employed tel
r double purpose. in peace and in To
If. but which. by reason Of their on
aracter. quality ana quantity, are th'
table and necessary for military he
rposes. and which are destined for ter
-