Evening star., 1917-03-04

e oALIFAN as port of call for
I'LL neutral commerce during war
lTI times draws attention to this
& q Canadian seaport and the am
bition it nourishes for peace times.
Former Ambassador Bernstorff's party.
detained in the harbor, naturally see
little of the city itself. Their presence,
however, has something more than a
passing interest There may be other
European diplomatic representatives
going home before long under safe
conduct These too, may find that the
only route for them is on neutral
ship which will put in at Halifax, to
be subjected 10 the scrutiny of the
British officials.
These individual cases are OF little
consequence What now raises the
hopes of Halifax is the examination of
east-hound cargoes there and the pos
sibility that west-bound cargoes also
may be subjected to a similar exam
ination. Heretofore kirkwall, on the
English coast, has been the port to
which the British admiralty has in
sisted that neutral ships shall put in
for examination. 1t is there, also, that
British warships have taken neutral
vessels for condemnation by the prize
courts.
All this has been under the overload
ship of the seas that Englands navy
has enabled her to maintain and to
enforce the construction of interna-
tional law which is most convenient
to her purposes during war. The United
States never has acknowledged the
legality of the blockade instituted by
England under orders in council, nor
of the course followed in forcing neu-
trail ships to put into Kirkwall either
by actual convoy or by moral duress.
1t has made its protests and then
acquiesced in the practice, leaving the
issue to be settled through diplomatic
channels whenever the war is ended.
This course has been defended on the
ground that the only alternative was
to put into effect retaliatory legisla-
tion against the allies which would be
equivalent to war.
The official attitude of the United
States as to Halifax is the same as
to Kirkwan. Neutral vessels which
accept the iron rule Of the British ad-
miralty may put in there for the ex-
animation of their cargoes and their
passengers. If they choose. Officially,
the State Department ignores the whole
matter. Unofficially. it does what 1T
can to expedite the arrangements made
for the call at Halifax.
Early in the year there were reports
that all outgoing and incoming ves-
sells would make the call at Halifax
because of the uncertainty of the
Washington policy. 1t was even de-
clared that they would take on and
discharge cargoes there, and that in
consequence New York would lose
large share of its commerce with the
allies and with neutral nations across
the Atlantic.
Experienced shipping men did not be-
come hysterical over the threat: They
knew that merely as question of
transportation the scheme was i'm
practicable. So they quietly ignored
the implied menace and. until the
latest German submarine order. there
was no suggestion that the neutral
lines would change their routes and put
into Halifax for the examination of
their cargoes and passengers. Probably
some of the Scandinavian lines will do
it. but there is no intifnation that
American merchant vessels will follow
their lead.
kk
Halifax has a most excellent harbor,
but while the transatlantic vessels on
their outward and inward courses
usually are reported by wireless as OF
Halifax, few of them make the port
to discharge or take on cargo
There are direct lines between Hall
fax and England. but the sailings in
peace times are not frequent. Halifax,
however, since the opening Of the war.
has experienced an unusual activity.
and when hosttlities are ended some
of this activity doubtless Will continue
SO that the volume of Its traffic will be
permanently increased.
Most people in the United States who
know Halifax know it as summer Wis
itors to Nova Scotia. others know 1t
in connection with the fisheries and the
old-time controversies as to the rights
Of the New England fishermen IN Nova
Scotian waters, and also as 10 the
tariff duties and similar matters. The
war has changed all these peaceful
activities, but 1t has not en.ireiy kept
away summer visitors, for Nova Scotia
has lost none of its charm, notWith-