The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-14

by President Wilson is timely, wise and in. correct. form according to Phi1ander Chase Knox, who, per hapss knows as much about inter- natonaI law and tha f1nesse of, di- plomacy as any person n the United | States.
 Besides serving as attorney-gen- era1 of the United States in the cab President Roosevelt, MT. Knox, for naerIy United States senator from Pennsylvania, also was secretary of state during the administration of President Taft
 It was while he was guiding the legal affairs of the United States that ths country indicated willing ness to accept the declaration of London. which modified the law of contraband and rights of seizure and ] terms that England is now basing much of it's claim to the right of holding up Amercan shipping. For the. first time since he retired from official life MT. Knox consented to talk on international affairs with the representative of 9 Hearst news paper.
 Where Diplomacy Wins.
 WhateVer statements MT. Knox made were made without the full text of resident Wilson note be- fore hIr1. For that reason many of
 
 than specific.
 Mr. Knox. s co ountry home is in the historic Chester valley close by the Headquarters of General Wash ington- here he has a ne estate. The library is racked with books ] from floor to ceiling. The desk he uses is the one at gf1ich he sat as secretary of state. His chafr was his in the office of attorneygen of the United States. Comunissions M K1nley. Roosevelt and Taft hang on the walls.
 i've had one hundred differences with England in the last century that were far from serious than the pres ent one,s said the famous secretary of state. All of them were ad- [ Justed by proper diplomacy
 ssI am in full sympathy with Pres ident Wilson's determnation to re- 1 d1Jlce to 8 nlinJ1nurn tine right of Eng und erstand that he challenges that right. He desires, 1T understand, that i England shall exercise it in a wax that will least interfere with our tcomnerce.
 Danger Is in Delay.
 As to it's effect on American com merce, in all cases Of war, neutral nations whose vessels carry contra band of war, are subject to seizure l and the right of search. That s something. however. that belliger- ents should exercise with due regard l for rights of the neutral nations
 seI cannot Imagine that these are gong to be violated in any sense that | would tend to break up American commerce- That commerce might be delayed by taking our vessels to nea- I traI ports and holding them is true That is the danger
 What do you thnk of President Wilson's note of protest2,s sI think 1t ds an extremely good l tIrg for him to dol believe with the late John Hay in Ilain truths. l Sometimes the truth is harsh, but it i is neverth e1ess the truth. see noth- ling in the plaraseoIogy of the protest to which England could take offense.
 sIt has got to- be habit in this I country if you cannot criticfse the l substance of government paper to criticse it's style. I see nothing in the present note to warrant criti- cisn, and cannot see how Eng1and can.
 Hostility Not Implied I That the note Implies hostility to- I ward England also is nonsense. Pres l ident Wilson merely is trying to pro- Iftect American commerce. If either England or Germany is injured by I his stand, that is not his fault. That l is accidental His duty is to the l American people. ~Do you believe it has changed our
 neutral attitude, as has been sug- Igested from English sources ?,' f'No. Whether it will aid in lift ing the blockade England asserts it I has established against Germany T l am not prepared to say.
 ssWhat can the United States do I Leaving war out of the questi on-if England refuses to accede to the de- i mands of this country ?,
 tsWhat government does when it
 makes q protest is based on interna- l tona1 law. It is not internati ona1 1 law after the protest international I matter of judgment, [ do not believe
 the present situation will reach that
 point.
 Will Go Through With It.
 fI should not like to volunteer ad- vice to the government, but think | that every American knows whether I President Wilson is right or wrong T and whether he should see the nat-s ter through without qualifying. or re- I treating. I. believe he is likely to go | through with ths. '
 Mr. Knox was asked the direct
 question if the nations at war make a contraband list whether the Unit
 ed States is bound to accept it.
 The word bound implies that it I would sbe obligatory" he replied.
 That is largely a mater of govern ment decision. The standard as to l what constitutes contraband differs from time to time What really is
 obligatory is indetermfnate. All na-
 tionsl try to make a list of contra
 band goods. but he complex condi- i lions of war necessarily make change 1 in that list. Things that would noS have been contraband twenty or
 thiT,y years ago are now regarded as contraband, and vice versa.
 we accepted the declaration of l London as to contraband during my l term of office We were very sorry to I see that it had not been generally ac-
 cepted. It counts in the general situ-
 atfon, when it has not been generally accepted. It amounts to an inn I portant expression as to what the
 rules of contraband ought to be-