The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-26

However sound the principle that goods intended for incorporation In the common stock of a neutral country should not be treated as contraband, may be in theory" says the note, Tit is one that can have but little appl1ca- tion to the present imports of the Scandinavian countries
 The circumstances of large number of these shipments negative any con clusion that they are bona fide ship ments for the importing countries. Many of them are made to persons who are inn porters of such articles. Consignments of meat products are addressed to lighter men and dock laborers. Several thou sands of tons of such goods have been bound documented for neutral port and addressed to firms which do not exist there; large consignments of similar goods were addressed to baker, to the keeper of a small private hotel or to a maker of musical instruments. Will 1t be contended that such imports ought to be regarded as bona flde shipments in tended to become part of the common stock of a country"
 His majesty's government desires to assure the United States government, the note continues, that every effort is being made to distinguish between bona fde neutral commerce and that which really is intended for the enemy. The IS one OI SXCpDllOlldl Al1iCdlty the statistics show that a great volume of imports intended for the enemy must have passed through adjacent neutral countries during the war. As an in stance the imports of lard into Sweden during the year 1915 may be taken. In that year the total import of lard into Sweden from all sources was 9318 tons, of which no less than 9029 tons came from the United States In the three years haf 6e annual in1nOrf Of the same article was only SSS tons, of which 63S came from the United States.
 INCREASE SUSPICIONS
 Tt is difficult to believe that the re- quirements of Sweden in respect of lard even when the allowance is made for possible diversions of trade due to the war could suddenly have increaseS more than tenfold in 1915. The inference in deed is irresistible that the greater part of these imports must have had another and an enemy destination"
 The note argues at length to justify the effectiveness of the blockade. and con- tends that the passage of commerce to a hlockaded area across a land frontier or across an international sea never has been held to interfere with the eff fectiveness of a blockade.
 The putting of cotton on the contra band list, the note says, was forced by the accumulation of evidence that 1t was being used only for military purposes in Germany and that its use for other pur- poses was prohibited,
 To the American contention that 'the curtailment of neutral rights by these measures, which are admittedly retalia- tory and therefore illegal, cannot be ad- mitted.' The note replies:
 Although these measures may have been provoked by the illegal conduct of the enemy, they do not in reality con- flict with any general principle of inter- national law, of humanity or of civiliza- ton. They are enforced with considera- ton against neutral countries and are therefore judicially sound and valid.
 Finally, his majesty's government de- sires to assure the United States gov ernment that they will continue their ef- forts to make the exercise of what they conceive to be their belligerent rights as little burdensome to neutrals as possi- ble." Then, referring to steps taken to expedite examination of ships and car- goes, the note says:
 Tt is to such mitigations that the al- lies and the neutrals concerned should look for the removal of difficulties now encountered rather than to abrupt changes either in the theory or applica- ton of a policy based upon admitted principles of international law, carefully adjusted to the altered conditions of modern warfare"
 The note is about 13,00O words long and contains some appendices and state ment from the French minister of ma- rine sustaining the views expressed by Admiral Jellicoe.