BRITAIN AND AMERICA

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 144, 20 February 1915, Page 2

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

ABSURDITY OF AMERICAN REQUEST. (United Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, Feb. IS. ISr Edward Grey, in a seven thousand words White Paper adressed to Mr. Page. American Ambassador, again insists that the United States’ trade with neutrals has actualy increased since the war. showing that a substantial part was intended for the enemy. He instances the United .States’ exports or meat and products to Denmark and oil to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The elaborate Gorman machinery for the supply of foodstuffs from oversea is coming to light. Under the circumstances it would be absurd to give t. definite pledge not to Interfere in cases were supplies can be proved to be for the. use of the enemy’s force, merely because the expedient has been adopted

of shipping to an agent in a neutral port. If neutrals suffer from shortage

in ocean transport this' is not due to Britain’s interference. There are only eleven neutral vessels awaiting the adjudication of the Prize Conn. Britain did not object to their release upon bail. The detention o* neu-

tral ships did not contribute to the shortage, as much as had the mines luff.

indiscriminately on the high seas, which had already destroyed 25 neutral vim sols. A century ago the difficulties ol land transport rendered it impracticable to obtain seaborne goods through neutral nations. The advent of steam made this easy. The United States, in the Civil War, first practised the capture of contraband destined for the enemy, but shipped to a neutral port.

THE RIGHT TO SEARCH. Britain was now facing the problem of intercepting supplies which were arranged by elaborate organisation and with unstinted expenditure. Hence it was necessary to inquire the destination of particular shipments even if there were slight delay, otherwise she would have to abandon beligerent rights, prolong the war, and increase the loss and suffering of the world. The system ( f making inquiries was a new departure, but wholly to the advantage of neutrals. The growth and size of steamships often necessitated their being taken to calm water. Cruisers had not encountered many neutral merchantmen under conditions when, it was impossible to launch a boat. During the Civil War the United States took vessels to port. Similarly, in the RussoJapanese War the right to search was especially necessary when merchantmen were able to lay mines and even fitted to discharge torpedoes and able fa conceal supplies for submarines under other cargo. Britain was making every effort to reduce delays to a minimum. BISMA RCK V? DIOTUM. The most difficult questions in connection with conditional contraband arose in regard to foodstuffs. Bismarck in 1885 refused to intervene in connection with the treatment of rice as contraband, urging that the necessary evils of war may be increased by interference by neutrals with the manner another Power carried on war. Bismarck added that the object of the measure was to shorten war- by increasing the enemy’s difficulties, and was justifiable if imparitally enforced by all neutral ships. Sir Edward Grey says the British Government is disposed to think Germany is still maintaining this view.

BRITAIN* CONSIDERATION FOR NEUTRALS. Sir Edward Grey concludes by recalling- that Britain established a special committee to ensure the speedy release of neutral . goods aboard the enemy ’s ships. This was highly appreciated by many Americans. Similarly, Britain consented to waive belligerent rights where ships belonged io companies incorporated in Germany but owned bv American corporations. When the f;wv J were better known he hoped it would be apparent to Americans that Bril;;in wasaetir.g on lines consistent with the fundamental principles of international law and exercising belligerent rights with every possible consideration for the interest of neutrals. BRITAIN PLAY?’ 1 0 AY! E. ! C ■ v 1 Feb. 1 7. The I’ress Bui.- 't F • G • ! Sir Edward Grey’s rep:;. (.■ ; if erica n Note on the contra!':! .■■mvii ui on February 10th points o.ii th ! vov adavs. trade ami finance are c ten and neutral commerce cannot e.c-tps grievous dislocation during a gre;.' v. n. The ! American exports of all met eh and iso ! except cotton during the first seven i months of 1914 declined 14?, per cent., while the export of the same articles from August to November dropped less , than four per cent. Consequently, ex- i eluding cotton, the effect of the war j had been to arrest the decline of | American exports. Any decrease in exports attributed to the war was essentially due to cotton, which was not contraband. The Note reviews the history of Prize Courts, and shows that Britain’s exercise of belligerent rights causes the minimum delay to neutrals. The announcement of Germany’s inlen- j lion to seize merchantmen cargoes without verification of nationality or pr< viding for the safety of non-combatant crews made it necessary for the BritiC Government to consider, .measures of

protection. It was impossible for one belligerent to depart from Lie mica and precedents and for the ethers to remain bound thereby. Sir Edward Grey points out that the distinction between ; foodstuffs destined for civilians and those for armed forces disappears when the distinction between the civil p r, p‘«- | latum and armed forces disappears, i However much goods may be intended j for civil use they will be consumed ir

| exigencies require by the military, especially now that the German Govern j meat has taken control of all foodstuffs