Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-24

consistent with the law ana prac-
tisc Of nations"
In the same note, Lord Lans-
downe notified Russia that the Brit
ish Government protested against
the doctrine that it is for a bel
ligerent to decide what articles are,
as q matter OF course, to be dealt
with as contraband of war, regard
less Of the "Well-cstablishcd rights
of ncutrals."
Lord Lansdowne went on to de-
clare that the British Government
denied that q belligerent could seize
cargo Of srcvisions on a neutral
ship, even wnen bound to an enemy
country unless it could be shown
that the cargo was consigned direct
ly TO the cneniy army or fleet, so as
to como under the head of military
supply. But when consigned for
enemy civilian rse the ship and car
go We're immune, and the British
Government would consider the
capture of british merchant snip
so voyaging TO q belllgerent port
with provision 3. "As constituting an
Iinwarantablc interference with neu-
trail commerce"
The British Government leaving
no doubt that IL would enforce this
contention by war. the Russian Gov
crnment backed down and issued
rectifying order" to its naval com
nlanders, which instructed them that
rice ana other foodstuff cargocs on
board neutral vessels bound to the
enemy ports should be considered
contraband Of war IL consigned to
the enemy government or to its army
OF navy, or its fortress or naval
bases; but that in cases when these
goods arc addressed to private in
dividuals in the enemy country, they
should not be considered contraband
OF war"
Upon further insistence Of the Brit
ish government, the Russian prohi-
bition Of cotton shipments to the
Japanese enemy was also modified
so rs to apply only TO raw cotton for
manufacture Of explosives, and not
to cotton yarns.
Thus mattors stood until the Con-
ference Of London, when. at tho
urgency OF the British delegates,
tho following definitions Of contra
band and non-contraband were
adopted as the maritime law OF na-
tions:
Article 22 specified as absolute
.contraband OF war all sorts OF arms
and ammunition, military wagons,
uniforms, saddle and pack animals
and their equipment, armor, war
ships, and Implements and apparatus
designed for manufacture or repair
Of arms or war material on land or
sea.
tsoio o a ,.ootrtoJ oo,di4io,,,l
Contraband as consisting of food
stuffs, forage and grain for animals,
clothing, shoes. gold, silver and
paper money and long list Of minor
articles.
Article 35 provided that condi-
ticnal contraband WIS liable to cap~
ture when bound to an enemy coun-
try, "and when it is not to be dis
charged at IN intervening port"
And Article 2S specified Us goods
that cannot be declared contraband
under any circumstances, and which
neutral ships can carry TO cncmy
ports, q long list OF textiles and
manufactures and raw materials,
among which are specifically named
raw cotton, wool, silk, jutc, flax,
hemp and yarns OF the same; rub
Der, raw hides, natural and artifi-
cial manurcs; agricultural, mining
and printing inachiney; Jewels, fam
cy and fasmon goods and household
furniture"
Such was tho law Of nations in re-
gard to neutral commerce when this
war broke out in July, 1914.
And we affirm that each and every
one OF the provisions and guarantees
OF that law, proposed, written, as
sented TO and having all tho moral
force of ratified treaties between tho
Powers, has been violated constantly
and persistently by all the belligcr-
cnts, to the dshonor and to tho
enormous injury OF tho peaceful neu-
trail nations.
The gravest offender has been
Great Britain, which has not only
violated the rights OF ncutrals, as
defined and insisted upon by her
Government wnon she was neutral
and Russia attempted to hinder her
commerce, but has violated the pro-
visions OF the Declaration OF Paris,
to which she was signatory; the
provisions of The Hague agreements,
which she signed and ratified; the
provisions of the Geneva Conference,
which sho signed and ratified. and
the Declaration Of London, drawn
up at her instance and agreed to by
her representatives. and though not
formally ratified when the war
broke out, yet afterward publicly
assentcd to by the British Govern
ment as part Of the law of nations.
Another agreement of The Hague
Conference which the British Gov
ernment formally ratified and bound
itself to observe in time OF war.
reads
ARTICLE I. The postal cores
pondcnce Of NcutraIs or Belligerents,
whatever It's official or private char
actcv may be-. fonnd on the high
seas on board neutral or enemy
ship, is invioIable. II the ship is de-
tanned, tho correspondence is TO oc
forwarded with the least possible
delay"
No ianguago could be clearer or
moro explicit; and the British Gov
crnment signed this public guaran-
tee and written treaty with the other
signotary Powers and afterward
gave It tho added sanction Of a
solemn ratification, with no posi-