New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-26

prize court has full power 10 oeciu'
any given act under those orders Is
illegal and TO entertain any claim loi
compensation on that basis.
Neutral Commerce Flourishing.
As in a previous note in answer 20
the contention that American commerce
is being destroyed by the British IN,
ferences. figures issued by the United
States Department of Commerce are
quoted TO show that exports TO thf
Scandinavian countries and Holland IN
creased from s97.000,000 in 1913 70
1926, 100000 in 1915.
AIN the face Of such figures, says
the note, at seems impossible 10 &C
cent the contention that BRUSH prize
court procedure has practically oe,
stroved much Of the export trade OF
The United States TO neutral countries
in Europe. and the inference is sug'
gested that II complaints have been
made to the Washington Adminlstra'
ton by would-be exporters they emu
nate. not from persons DESTROYS OF en-.
gaging in genuine commerce WIN "
neutral countries, but from those VIM
desired TO dispatch goods TO the enemy
under cover OF neutral DESTINATION
and who found il more difficult 70 con
ceal the real facts from the prize cou'
under the new procedure.
"The circumstances Of large mum
Der OF American shipments nes".sSS -
anv conclusion that they are bona noe
slinments for the importing countries.
MANY Of them are made to person
who are apparently nominees OF enems
cents consignments Of meat pro,
J1cts are addressed TO lightermen ana
dcck laborer.. Several thousanGs o,
IONS OF such goods have been foJn1l
documented for neutral port atu
eSdrassed 10 firms which do not eXls'
there. =,
Pressure Put on L. ;.
an the presence Of facts, such as
those indicated above, the Cnl..I
States government will, II is beiieveo'
agree with his majesty's government
that no belligerent could IN moderIl
times submit to be bound by a rule
that no goods could be seized unless
thew were accompanied by papers
which established their destination 70
an enemy country. and that all deten-
tions of ships and goods must UNI.
formlv be based on proofs obtained ~
the time of seizure. To press any suon
theory is tantamount 10 asking that an
trade between neutral ports shall De
free and would thus render nugatory
tho exercise of sea power ana dcsIroy
the pressure which the command OIL
tho sea enables the Allies to impose
upon their enemy.
at Ia of course inevitable that the
ov.rc;se OF belligerent rights at sea-
houever reasonably exercised, must in
norven;ence neutral trade and great
nressure is being put upon the Onileo
States government TO urge the 'echn'
col theory that there should be no IN
reference at all with goods passing
between neutral ports and thus 70
Illustrate the measures which the Allies
have taken TO intercept commerce on
lis way to or from the enemy.
The note refers TO the action taken
bv the United States during the Clvii
War TO stop such trade and 70 tne
Supreme Courts doctrine OF contihu-
Gus voyage given to cover Gil cases
where there was an intention 70 th"at'
the blockade By "whatever means d.
rect or indirect"
Task Exceptionally Difficult.
"Hjs majesty's government desires 20
assure the United States government,
the note continues" that every eHort Is
being made to distinguish between pona
fde neutral commerce and that wnlch
really is intended for the enemy. ne
tosk is one OF exceptional difficulty: As
an instance the imports OF lard lnto
Sweden during the year 1919 may ne
taken. In that year the total import
Of lard into Sweden from all sources
was e.31s tons, Of which no less tnah
9.029 tons came from the United States.
ain the three years before the war
the average annual import OF the SANE
article was only S8S tons, OF wnlcn 900
came from the United States. ~ 10
dificult 70 believe that the require
ments Of Sweden In respect OF Iaro'
even when every allowance is MADE
g., nos.ible diversions Of trade due to
thc var. could suddenly have increased
more than ten fold In 1915. The infer
enca indeed. is irresistible that the
oreater part OF these imports must
have had another and an enemy des-
tination.' -.
The note points out that the efec-
+;ysne,s of the blockade is shown BY
tho ANAL number OF vessels which
escape the Allied patrols. at is doubt
ful I" the note continues, whether there
ever ha. been q blockade where the
ships which slipped through bore so
small a proportion TO those which were
;ntsrespted. The best proof OF
the thoroughness Of a blockade Is 70
be found In its results. Inc
great rise in price in Germany Of
many articles most necessary 70 tne
enemy IN the prosecution OF the presen'
war rnust be we'll known 70 the Unitec
States Government"
Why Cotton Is Contraband-
The putting Of cotton on The contra
band list, the note says, was forced py
tho accumulation Of evidence that j
was being used only for military pur
poses in Germany and that its use FOL
other purposes was prohibited. INT
note remarks:
Although these measures may hav
been provoked by the Illegal conduc
Of the enemy, they do no. IN realit
conflict with any general principle o
international law, Of humanity or o
civilizations; they are enforced Wit
consideration against neutral eountrie
and are, therefore, turidicnily SCUM
and valid.
His msiesty's government desire
70 assure tho United States govern
rent that II will continue its effort
10 make the exercise Of what it con
ceives 20 be its belligercnt rights &
little burdensome 70 neutrals as pos
sible."
The note Is about $4,000 words Ion
and contains some appendices and
statement from the French Minister o
Marine sustaining the view espresso
by Admiral Jellcoe.