2
But Her Majesty's Government cannot admit that if such provisions were consigned to the port of a belligerent (even though it should be a port of naval equipment), they could therefore be necessarily regarded as contraband of war.
In the view of Her Majesty's Government the test appears to be whether there are circumstances relative to any particular cargo, or its destination, to displace the presumption that articles of this kind are intended for the ordinary use of life, and to show, prima facie at all events, that they are destined for military use.
No such qualification, however, is contained in the announcement made by your Excellency, in respect of the destination of the rice, or of the purposes to which it is intended to be applied.
I have, therefore, the honour to state to your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government cannot assent to the right of the Government of the French Republic to declare rice generally to be contraband of war, if carried to any port north of Canton.
I beg leave to add that Her Majesty's Government could not, under any circumstances, acquiesce in that portion of your Excellency's note in which it is stated that the Notification in question will take effect from the 26th instant, as many vessels laden with rice may have already commenced their voyages.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
GRANVILLE.
DRAFT.
An Under Sec. opstate
7.0.
Confidential
MINUTE. 5 Mar Johnsen 5
Mr.
Mr. De Robeck
Mr. Wingfield.
XMr. Bramston.
Mr. Meade.
Sir R. Herbert,
Mr. Ashley.
Lord Derby.
of
4804
7.0. 3875
استلام
لیسا
Whang
115
5 Mar. 85
In reply to your
5. letter of the 2nd mist.,
ई
marked Confidential, Jam directed byther
Last relative to thin
intention of the French fort to treat Mise Contraband of war, I
am directed by the Earl of Derly, wheth to repair, whether, in Earl Grilles Opinion, the God of When,
should
KLISTA
!