SEA CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20079, 27 October 1939, Page 8

SEA CONTROL

BRITISH SYSTEM ACCORD WITH LAW SOVIET OBJECTIONS LONDON REACTION SURPRISE AROUSED (Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Rcca. 1.45 p.m. RUGBY, Ocl. 26. The Soviet note regard inti the British contraband list was only received in London, ofliciallv to-day and it is now being considered. In infiafnied quarters it is understood that it lias been received at this dage wftti considerable surprise and it may be said that there is no likelihood 'of the arguments it contains being admitted. The British contraband policy and practice are fully in accord with international law. Belligerents are entirely free to specify articles useful in tile prosecution of war which they will regard as contraband, and the’ classes of goods treated as contraband in the British proclamation of September :i correspond closely with those proclaimed to be contraband by both sides in the last war. including the United States. Materials For War For instance, fuel, one of the classes of goods to the inclusion of which exception is taken in the Soviet note, is an essential material in the conduct of modern war, while cotton, which is also mentioned, is widely used in the manufacture of explosives Foodstuffs were also treated as conditional contraband as long ago as | the eighteenth century. In view of the fact that an appeal is made in the Soviet note to the .1909 Declaration of London, it is recalled that, although that declaration was never fully ratified by any Power, an attempt to apply it was made byBritain in the early stages of the last war. This attempt broke down, and inasmuch as it excluded from the list of contraband such articles as metallic ores and cotton, the failure is noi surprising.

Regarding the practice followed by Britain, in controlling trade in contraband. of diverting ships to specified ports, this was adopted owing to the proved impossibility of searching and examining the cargoes of large ships carrying a varied assortment of general, merchandise at sea, which was an olde 1 ' practice.