Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-02-27

affect ships that went to sea before
it was proclaimed.
Urges the Wilhelmina's Release.
Should Great Britain carry out her
intimated purpose of declnflng all
foodstuffs absolute contraband Of
war she would assume an attitude
which the United States would surely
find the greatest difficulty in a0r
hitting But neither in that event
would the case of the Wilhelmina be
affected, if for no other reason than
the fact that she has a right to COM
plete q voyage entered upon before
England had declared her cargoecon-
traband. The detention of that ship
cannot be permitted. It is an Amer
lean ship laden with the produce of
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri farms
shipped by citizens OF the United
States across an ocean which we
must maintain is free to us for inno-
cent purposes TO a market which we
cannot concede the right of any
other government to close to our
people.
InclOsure.
Instructions to British Delegation at
the Second Peace Conference.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir Edward Fry.
Foreign Office, June II, 1907.
25. His majesty's government re-
cognize to the full the desirability of
freeing neutral commerce to the ut
most extent possible from interfer-
ence by belligerent powers, and they
are ready and willing for their part,
in lieu of endeavoring to frame new
and more satisfactory rules for the
prevention of cOntraband trade in
the future, to abandon the principle
of contraband of war altogether, thus
allowing the oyersea trade in neutral
vessels between belligerents on the
one hand and neutrals on the other
to continue during war without any
restriction, subject only to its ex-
clusion by blockade from an enemy's
port. They are convinced that not
only the interest of Great Britain,
but the common interest of all ma
tions, will be found on an unbiased
examination of the subject to be
served by the adoption of the course
suggested.
26. In the event of the proposal
not being favorably received an en-
deavor should be made to frame
list of the articles that are to be
regarded as contraband. Your efforts
should then be directed to restricting
that definition within the narrowest
possible limits and upon lines which
have the point of practical extinction
as their ultimate aim.
27. If a definite list of contraband
cannot be secured you should sup
port and if necessary propose regu-
lations intended to insure that ma
tions shall publish during peace the
list of articles they will regard as
contraband during war and that no
change shall be made in the list on
the outbreak OF or during hostilities.
2S. A list might be prepared and
submitted for adoption by the con-
ference specifying the articles which
in no event shall fall within the
enumeration Of contraband-e g.,
mails, foodstuffs destined for places
other than beleaguered fOrtresses
and any raw materials required for
the purposes Of peaceful indstry 1t
is essential to the interest of Great
Britain that every effective measure
necessary to protect the Importation
of food supplies and raw materials
for peaceful industries should be ac-
companied by all the sanctions which
the law Of nations can supply.
20. His majesty's government
would further be glad to see the right
of search limited in every practicable
way-e. g., by the adoption of a sys-
TEN Of consular certificates declaring
the absence Of contraband from the
cargo and by the exemption of pas
senger and mail steamers upon de-
fined routes, etc.