New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-12

ton was based on an erroneous belief
that the Central Powers had failed TO
agree 70 reciprocal course in the
treatment Of articles for the sick and
wounded.
Blocked by Great Britain.
"Sincc tho beginning of the present
war;" tho letter said, "thc American
Red Cross has invited contributions OF
money and supplies with which to aid
the wounded and suffering Of all the
bclligereHts. We have shipped 10 the
Red Cross societies Of each belligerent
hospital supplies contributed to us for
that purpose.
1--WE have found no difficulty in send
ing such articles TO the Entente Allies.
We have had 20 obtain permits from
Great Britain for the shipments 10 the
Red Cross Of the Central Powers Unul
September. 1915, there was substantial
ly no delay in the granting OF these
permits by Great Britain. Since that
time we have had much difficulty IN
securing them, and the supplies donated
in kind and designated for the use OF
the Central Powers have accumulated
in our warehouse in Brooklyn. A per
nit was granted for only one shipment
since that time-in January Of tins
year.
Through your department we are
now in receipt Of a communication
from the British government announc-
ing that II does not intend TO permit
any further shipment. unless II is
shipment 20 our own hospital units IN
a territory Of the Central Powers. This
exception amounts to no concession, for
the reason that. as the British govern
mcnt was advised in August last, after
the first of October. for lack of funds,
we were able to maintain no hospital
units in any OF the belligerent coun-
tries.
The authorities of the American Red
Cross believe that under the Geneva
Convention, TO which the United States
and all the beligerent powers are sig
natories, the United States has the
treaty right 10 insist that articles serv-
ing exclusively TO aid the sick and
wounded in the form Of hospital sup
plies, shipped by the American Red
Cross 70 the Red Gross Of the Central
Powers, shall not be declared contra
band. but shall be allowed safe conduct
20 their destination.
Based on Misconception.
"The reasons for this view Of the
obligation of Great Britain under the
Geneva convention of 1906 we set forth
in communication by tho undersigned
10 his excellency, the British Ambassa-
kar
and a copy Of this was transmitted to
your department. We are now in re
ceipt of q communication from your de-
partment, inclosing a dispatch from tho
British government in which 1t definite
lv withdraws its consent for the ship
ment Of such articles by the American
Red Cross. and thus in effect announces
its purposes to treat them as a contra
band Of war.
1.-THE reason as given by the British |
government for this conclusion in the F,
dispatch OF March % is that while it
had consented TO exempt from treat /
ment as contraband Of war articles /
serving exclusively to aid the sick and 4
wounded, and coming within the de- /
scription contained in Article 29 of the 1
Declaration of London. and had ex- /
pressed that willingness to the Span .
ish Ambassador with view to its ,
communication to the Central Powers,
nine months had passed since that COM
and no definite communica-
ton had been received from the Ger
man. Austrian or Turkish government
on the subject of these lists.
an view Of the fact that the Ger
man government did consent to a
reciprocal course on October Is. 1915,
in respect to Article 20. and that fact
was communicated to the British For
eign Office, as We are advised by the
British Ambassador at Washington, we
venture TO hope that the conclusion of /
the British government was based on I
a misconception, and that when the /
matter is called to its attention a /
change in this policy may be had"