The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-06
of articles when bound to neutral

band, shipped from the United States
and consigned to neutral countries
have been seized and detained on the
ground that the countries to which
they were destined have not pro
scribed expectation of such articles.
.Unwarranted as such detentiOns
are, in the opinion of this government
American exporters are. further per
picked by the apparent indecision Of
the British authorities in applying
their own rules to neutraliZe cargOes
For example, shipment of copper
from this country to specified con.
signee in Sweden was detained be-
cause, as was stated by Great Britain
Sweden had placed no embargo or
copper. On the other hand, Italy moi
only prohibited the export of copper
but, as this government is informed
put in force decree that shipments
to Italian consignees or to order
which arrive in ports of Italy cannot
be exported or transported.
1.-The only exception Italy makes is
of copper which passes through that
country in transit to another country
In spite of these DEGREES, however
the British foreign Office has thus far
declined to affirm that copper ship.
ments consigned; to Italy will not be
molested on the high seas. Seizures
are so numerous and delays so pro-
longed that exporters are afraid to
send their copper to Italy, steamship
lines decline to accept 1t and insurers
refuse to issue policies upon It. In q
word. legitimate trade is being
greatly impaired through uncertainty
as to the treatment which 1t may en-
pect at the hands OF the British au-
thorities.
1--WE feel that we are abundantly
justified in asking for information as
to the manner in which the British
government proposes to carry out the
policy which they have adopted; in
order that we may determine the steps
necessary to protect our citizens en-
gagged In foreign trade in their rights,
and from the serious loss to which
they are liable through ignorance of
the hazards to which their cargOes
are exposed.
I'm the case of conditional contra
band the policy OF Great Britain APP
pears to this government to be equally
unjustifiedl by the established rules OF
International conduct. AS evidence OF
this, attention is directed to the fact
that q number Of American cargoes
which have been seized consist Of
foodstuRs and other articles Of COM
mon use in all, countries. which are
admittedly relative contraband. In
spite Of the presumption OF innocent
use because destined 70 neutral terri
tory, the British authorities made
these seizures and detenti0ns without,
SO. far as We are informed, being In
possession of facts which warranted
q reasonable belief that the vessels
had in reality q belligerent destina-
ton as that term Is used in interna-
tional law. Mere suspicion is not EVIL
dence, and doubts should be resolved
In favor OF neutral commerce. not
against it. The effect upon trade In
these articles between neutral nations
resulting from interrupted voyages
and detained cargoes is not entirely
cured by reimbursement of the own.
ers for the damages which they have
suffered after investigation has failed
injury Is to American commerce with
neutral countries as whole through
the hazard Of the enterprise and the
repeated diversion Of goods from
established markets.
K 1T also appears that cargoes Of this
character have been seized by the
British authorities because OF belief
that. though not originally so intended
by the shippers, they will ultimately
reach the territory Of the enemies Of
Great Britain. Yet this belief Is fire..
Quently, reduced to q mere fear in
view of the embargoes which have
been ,decreed by the neutral countries
to which they are destined on the ar
ticles composing the cargoes.
That consignment TO order Of mr.
ticles listed as conditional contraband
and shipped to neutral port raises b
legal presumption Of enemy destina-
ti0n appears to be directly contrary to
the decisions previously held by Great
Britain and the United States, stated
by Lord Salisbury during the South
African war:
'Foodstuffs. though having hos
tile destination. can be considered IS
contraband Of war only ii they are for
the enemy forces. 1t is not sufficient
that they are capable of being SO
used: 1t must be shown that this was
in fact their destination at the time
OF their seizure
"With this statoment a IN condition
al contraband the views Of this gov
eminent are in accord, and upon this
doctrine. consistently main
tanned by Great Britain when q bellig-
erent as we'll as a neutral, American
shippers were entitled to reply.
"The government of the United
States readily admits the full right of
a belligerent to visit and search on
the high seas the vessels Of American
or other neutral vessels car
rying American goods and detain
them WHEN THERE Is SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY A BELIEF
THAT CONTRABAND ARTICLES
ARE IN THEIR CARGOES, but his
government, judging by
their own experience in the past, must
realize that this government cannot
without protest permit American
ships or American cargOes to be TAX
Ell into British ports and there de-
tanned for the purpose Of searching
generally for evidence Of contraband,
or upon presumptions created by spe-
cial municipal enactments which are
clearly nj Variance with INT a ru II nm nj