New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-07

states. Inc Union tnen turnO0 from
its traditional policy Of asserting
neutral rights. The ports Of the Con-
federacy were declared closed and .
navy was built up to form = block
ade. British traders matched their
wits with the American navy. Inter-
national law recognized no belliger-
ent right to interfere with commerce
between two British, or other neu-
trail ports: but tho United States
announced the doctrine Of con-
tinuous voyage" The Supreme Court
made important decisions upholding
the doctrine.
The presidents thus esta blished by
our own government remained to
plague the United States during the
World War. when American vessels
bound for European neutral ports
were held up by British warships
and searched under the American
doctrine Of continuous voyage"
The first Hague conferences in 1899
Intellectually discussed the problem.
The second Hague conference in 1904
had before 1t = resolution passed by
Congress asking action. and was op-
posed by the British. An effort to
form an international prize court
also failed. Tho British government
called . conference In 1905. The
declaration Of London resulted.
which sought to clarity the sea law
through compromises. The United
States signed 1t but it never was
finally accepted by any Of the sigma
tory powers.
world War Disputes
At the outbreak of the World War
there was no general agreement as to
the law of tho sea in time Of war.
President Wilson on August s. 1914.
addressed a note to all the belliger-
ents suggesting the Declaration OF
London az basis during the war.
Germany and Austria accepted on
condition that their enemies would
do likewise. Great Britain replied 1t
would be governed by the Declare
ton subject to notifications" ETC.,
which meant little. Tho United
states thereupon withdrew its sug.
gestion.
The contraband list was 20 cx-
tended a the, war progressed that
scarcely any distinction remained
The British list in 1917 covered thou
sands OF articles. Neutral vessels. in.
stead Of being searched at sea. were
taken to British ports and held. The
burden of proof In prize courts wa
shifted from the captor to the cap.
tured. The doctrine Of continuous
voyage" was extended. The United
States protested vigorously. But seri-
Gus ~ we're the violations of interna-
tional law by the ALLIES. Americans
we're earning large war profits at the
same time by sending supplies to the
Allies and that helped to salve the
woundA
Violations of international law b,
Germany, on the other hand. in.
volved not only loss of property but
the loss Of American lives: . cir.
cumstance that turned the scales II
favor of the Allies.
We Accept English View
when the United States became {
beliigerent 1t accepted the Allied
Interpretations OF internationa
law and engaged in the practicei
that previously had served II
grounds for complaint against Eng
land. 1t IL a question open to doubt
however, whether the breaches OF In
ternational law during the Worlt
War caused 4 real change In the Law
a. understood prior to 1914. This Law
in its tendencies was to yield to tn,
mistress Of the seas the power I,
declare contraband and enforce IT
will upon neutral commensurate a
America tried to do with respect t
trade with the Confederacy durinl
the Civil War.
The diplomatic agreement between
the United States and Britain in 1872
provided that neither party vii
claim International arbitration of an
national alleged loss through the va
measures adopted by the other. an
each government undertakes t
satisfy the claims OF it, own nation
ais. And the exchange Of notes in
cluded q paragraph that in the fu
ture each government reserved tn
right to assume the very same posi-
ton as to neutral and belligeren
rights that 1t maintained during tn
World War-again leaving the mean
ing OF international law at sea dur
ing war under a cloud OF uncertain
ty.
And Now
Senator Borah has been at wor
for q new international conferenc