THE CHINA MAIL
NEUTRALITY ↑
TEMBER 24, 1937.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
asc from any standard cipal Law, not by international violate injunctions of the belliger-
יו"
Sir, It is unnecessary for me to ture to think that the answer to the these subjects to comply with such mit such acts, they neither violate dilate on the horrors and sufferings question adumbrated above is not injunctions of their sovereigns is neutrality nor do they act against caused by the present Sino-Japan- difficult, and, indeed, can readily be a duty imposed upon them by Muni- International Law, they simply ese conflict. Descriptions of the
book the subject. And in the Law. Belligerents, on the ents concerned. If they choose to are indeed per run the risk of punishment in the mutilation and slaughter inflicted hope that an elementary elucida- other hand,
International Law form of losing their property, this by the aircraft, battleships and tion of the point in question may mitted by other military machines of a Mighty result in enabling many a resident to punish subjects of neutrals is their own concern, and their to gratify the imperative dictates for breach of blockade, for carriage neutral home State need not pre- Military Nation in an undeclared
are of his conscience, and thus to cana- of contraband, and for rendering vent them from doing so. But to the war-of innocent men, women lize all the diffused kindness, unneutral service to the enemy; but right of belligerents to punish sub and children, are now the inevit charity and humanity that so the duty of subjects of neutrals to jects of neutrals for the acts speci- abundantly exists in the Colony, comply with these injunctions of fied corresponds the duty of neutral able features of our daily news-
into a stream of sustained charit belligerents is a duty imposed upon States to acquiesce in the exercise papers.
able effort in aid of all the terrible them by these very injuretions of of this right by either belligerent.
Apart from carriage of contra - sufferings which have now been the belligerents, and not by Inter With all the damaging effect on brought to our very doors, I beg to national Law. Although as a rule a band, breach or attempted breach trade as the result of a "blockade" quote a few relevant paragraphs State has no jurisdiction over for- of blockade, and unneutral service in connection with an “incident," from Oppenheim's International eign subjects on the open sea, Inter- to the enemy, which a belligerent national Law gives each belligerent may punish by capturing and con- with incessant and unsatiable de- Law, Volume II:—
an exceptional right to punish for fiscating the vessels or goods con- mands on a dwindling purse, we
"Such States as do not take part eign subjects by confiscation of cerned, subjects of neutrals are. naturally find it more and more dif in a war between other States are cargo, and in certain circumstances perfectly free in their movements; ficult to satisfy our innate sense of neutrals." (p. 475).
of the "vessel itself, in case their and neutral States have in parti- charity. And yet I feel that there
4294. Since neutrality is an at- vessels break or attempt to break cular no duty to prevent their sub- are many in the Colony who would titude of impartiality, it excludes a blockade, carry contraband, or jects from selling arms, munitions, such assistance and succour to one render unneutral service to the and provisions to a belligerent, like to donate something to the of the belligerents as is detrimental enemy; but punishment is threat from enlisting in his forces, and various local Chinese Relief Organi- to the other, and, further, such in- ened and executed by the belliger- the like." (pp. 478, 479 and 480).
Your truly, sations, if only they could feel that juries to the one as benefit the ents, not by International Law.
MK LO. they could properly do so as sub- other. But it requires, on the other Therefore, if neutral subjects com- jects of Nations other than China. hand, active measures from neutral and enjoying the peace, order and States. For neutrals must prevent- security of a neutral British Colony belligerents from making use of Indeed, I have often been asked of their neutral territories, and of THE late as to the position of a "neu- their resources, for military and tral” resident in the Colony.
naval purposes during the war This applies not only to actual fighting on neutral territories, but also to the transport of troops, war material, and provisions for the troops, the fitting out of men-of-war and privateers, the establishment of Prize Courts, and the like. Further, neutrals must prevent each belli- gerent from interfering with their legitimate intercourse with the Gentlemen, The birdseed for not proved title I would have
Iquested the Compradore to take it other belligerent through commerce which I paid you, and for which and the like, because a belligerent hold your receipt, has not arrived away, failing which I would have It is most unlikely that you wish to cannot be expected passively to as promised. I want it at once. put it in the dustbin, as I have no be cruel, and yet many people are suffer vital damage resulting to I may say I do not admire your me-use for it. Not to others, perhaps, but to them himself from the violation by his thods of conducting your business. selves. They eat with little discretion and then when stomach and bowels enemy of a mile which, while it rebel at the over-load they force them operates directly in favour of nen- to work by means of harsh purgatives, trals, indirectly operates.. in his which is nothing short of ertelty to favour as well. these long-suffering organs.
Whilst I frankly disclaim any ex- pert knowledge on the intricate subject of International Law, I ven
Are You Cruel, Or Kind?
WORLD GOES BY
By "ULYSSES
THE following correspondence was I to know it was yours till
shows how wars begin.
1. Ulysses to Compradore.
i
2. Compradore to Ulysses.
Our Sir, We are, very sorry.. coolie reports that as he found your
saw the proof?) was left at *T** place without my knowledge or con- sent, and if its rightful owner had
6. Ulysses to neighbour.
re-
Dear Neighbour, Sorry. I had a liver. The uncertified lunatics who serve me reported that you simply
When there is some congestion or slight derangement in the food tract, and this may happen in spite of every
But it is important to remember promises unoccupied, he left the declined to surrender the stuff, and care, the best way quddy to put mat that the necessary attitude of im- birdseed with your next-door neigh-I was full of the injustice implied in ters right is to take a doge of Pinkettes, partiality is not incompatible with bour.
the tiny, non-griping and non-habit- sympathy with one belligerent, and forming laxative pills. 1
#
the act of a person clinging to pro- perty he must know not his.
Now
In a perfectly gentle way Pinkettes antipathy against the other, so long (Servant sent to next-door neigh-that I understand the position dispel constipation, activate the liver, as these feelings do not find expres bour reports that they decline to apologise, and regret the trouble and banish bilousness, correct nausea and sion in actions violating imparti-surrender the birdseed, and prefer annoyance caused you sick headache, sid digestion, purify the ality. This, not only public opinion to instruct Compradore to come and
WHITE-ANTS
Lake it away.)
3.
7.
Neighbour to Ulysses.
OK. Regarding that liver, have you tried Blowfly's Deadcert Pills?
8.
Compradore to Ulysses.
breath, clear the skim. Pinkettes, the ideal little family laxatives, are sold and the press of a neutral State, but by all chemists
"also its Government; may show their sympathy to one party or an
Ulysses to neighbour. other without thereby violating
Sir or Madame, A consignment of neutrality. Moreover, acts of hu manity on the part of neutrals and longs to me.
birdseed now in your possession be- I paid for it. The their subjects, such as the sending Compradore's fool of a coolie left it
We understand from your neigh- to military hospitals of doctors, me with you by mistake.
bour that you now have your bird- dicine, provisions, dressing material, derstand why you should refuse to seed, and trust you are now satis- and the like, and the sending of surrender what is not your pro-fied. We regret that our coolie dîd clothes and money to prisoners of 11 war, can never be construed as acts not handed to bearer, I shall take
perty. I send receipt herewith. If what he did. of partiality, even if these comforts further step recover it. are provided for the wounded and
ARE
DESTRUCTIVE.
PROTECT
YOUR HOMES
Phone 30722
For Free Expert Advice.
THOMAS COWAN & CO.
White Ant Beterminators.
Queen's Bldg, Hong Kong
Cannet un-
the prisoners of one belligerent 4 Ulysses to Compradore. only." (pp. 476 and 477).
**296.
recovering my
The above is very weak, I know, and, of course, does not reflect my
Gentlemen, I look to you to re
repair undoubted skill as Hong Kong's As International Law is your blunder by ~
premier humorist (self-appointed). a-law between States only and ex-birdseed from my neighbour or by The fact is that writing this column clusively, neutrality is an attitude sending me a substitute reply daily has proved a greater strain of impartiality on the part of Failing this I will consult my soli- States, and not on the part of în-citor. dividuals. Individuals derive nei-
ther rights nor duties according to 5., Neighbour to Ulysses. International Law from the neutra lity of those States whose subjects Have handed your damned birde they are. Neutral States are indeed seed to your ditto servant. I dislike obliged by International Law to prevent their subjects from com mitting certain acts, but the duty of
than I anticipated, so I will renew my offer, made several months ago, to accept a handsome donation from any man, woman or child willing to take over my burden.
Applications for
post
the tone of your damned letter Ulysees (accompanied by crossed claim entire freedom from blame în cheque) should be addr
matter Your birdseed (how China Mail Office.