Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-04-07
BRITISH PERFIDY BACKED BY
BIG GUNS.
mon Tho WashingLon posL.


around the throat OF neutral com.
morcc by the British government
which has not merely issued an order
IN council authorizing the capture OF
neutral cargocs, whether contrabanc
or not, but has made that order re-
troaciiyc.
Relying upon the absolute assur-
ancc OF Sir Edward Grey 90 The De-
partmcnt of State, 10 the effect chat
the doctrine Of continuous voyage
would not be applied TO conditional
ccntraband; taking note chat the
british order i'm council OF october
%, 1914. definitely ratified the doc
laration of London on this point, and
receiving from the Department OF
State the official statement OF British
assurances, American shippers pro-
cccdcd to send carg0es TO neutral
ports IN Europe. These careoes We're
not only noncontraband. but were de-
ciarcd by Great Britain itself to be
immunc from capture, even il con-
ditional contraband
Yet these cargoes were seized ana
conveyed to British ports for prize
court proceedings The owners were
subjected 90 great expense; the con-
sisnecs saw their business demoal-
jzcd; tho exporters we're left in the
dark as TO tho fate OF their goods
and attorneys were hired at great
expense 20 defcnd the captured vos-
ecls and carRocs against action which
Great Britain solomnly promised she
would not take
Now whom these cases approach
trial. tho British crown attorneys
notify the Americans chat the new
British order in council OF March 80
is retroactive The British promise
was lie. Sir Edward Grey's assur-
ancc 10 The United states govern
mont was q scrap Of paper The ship
pcrs relying upon the British aesur-
ances aro now told that they have no
defense that the new order wipes
out an their rights
Thus Great Britain purauea her
timc~nonored policy of pcrndy to
America Under unctuous phrase
and hypocritical fladery lies the cold
and settled determination 10 destroy
commerce between ncutrnls, by fair
means or foul Does America ship
cargo OF meat to Norway? Then
meat Is placed Oh iho cOntraband list
and the cargo is seized Is an Amer
Jean cargo OF cotton bound tor
sweden? 1t must be seized no!with-
standing the fact that the cOasignee
rs a Swedc and swedish subjects arc
the consumers Cotton is placed on
the contraband list after q promise
was given that IL would rot be, and
the cargo is seized is q cargo sent
over which cannot BY any shameless
strctca of conscience be called contra
band? Then IL Is denounced as des
tined for the enemy" and is seized,
ON tho high seas between neutral
ports
When casos like these were tried
tho British prize court judge held
,hat goods presumed 10 be destined
for the enemy" even if noncontga-
band, were lawful prize. IL was not
necessary 20 prove that the goods
were destined FOR the enemy; a reas-
enable presumption was sufficient
OF course. after the British govern
mont had directed the seizure the
British court found it easy 10 catab-
'sh reasonable presumption 10
'avor of The government and against
me neutrals. If the judge had done
)thcrwisc, he would have been SUI
,nHeaInI ittJ.o f.rrasoaftttf
eDna, so,so ~ pr5tiei, noiio,' nm
40 'or;tieb iudoa har ctiIod in his
lntg hIi ~ fbon, navn efontlv XXI
'Tfd t,o or(ors ' ~, oo,,,,o,I ',o,,,,'o,.
noeo order~ Soiatcd
=, ,,4e,nstionsl ln~.
troro tboa A. ,.fioo nossoes;n.
,ve,,,h eir,Ire eoo n~,g~,. XXI on in-
,ttsi,1r s,notie@ ~, coT,.,,or.o
.n,,ecionco i,ot co'n hc ~fratchod ~ (
o,'or snv or,e,cency srd contc,ont
~ eoior,n ,ro,,,isee Va is ,,'ar
,,ft, o,oti,e, ..reat ,,,tion aod K. Dn,.
,to,ino XII n.,,sl n@,,,o,. oefonsihi,. (
o,. ,es, ,,,,noeee w-ha4 "a c,eicr
h,n ~ 1so thtN non'er for thc ox-
nneion of con,n,orco nnds,' tbo nro-
nnsn III o,ilita,.v noccesitt9 wbst I
,rntrsi WIN ho ~ orfesood .s ~ at
aci, tbo i,,,n,oneo ra,,1 tgat n~r-
~ t'.otca .be. ,vrono9 WV sbonld
.ontral nroteets he hcoded II fbev
,rnot NJ haclrod e, hv force Why
nonI5 Creef D,itain nov anv anon
ion ~ r6n,.oachee M roisobood no,.-
~. ,,.'.. .....-. ~. ..., ,,,,,.. - 90