CO129-224 - Foreign Office - 1885 — Page 86

it's character was to be determined

by

its destination though she

refuses to class it as a general

site as contraband. Thus

Vessels were, during the war of 1870. prohibited from sailing from English Ports with coal directly conveyed to the French Heet in the North Sea.

Coal is as largely used for minorent purposes that no suffice & presumption that it is intended for warlike use is afforded by the simple

fact

fact of its destination to a belligerent Port.

84

We think therefore that where coal is

being conveyed

in the ordinary

course

busines consigned to a

merchant at a

Port, it

ought

f

belligerent

regarded as contraband

War.

But if its

kur

to be

of

for warlike

its use.

purposes, is extremely portables

as by its

consignment to an Naval