CO129-414 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [10-11] — Page 272

Extract from the tiongkong Daily Press of the

22nd October, 1914.

Boidw to Jeit as yoède eft of constelres refimia zobam of dolde

.nisIqmoɔ at ezuas jaut os yon evad ow

ed of zvonod edt evad I

,tasviða Jaeibedo TOI

emsti[ƒW‚H.A.X .da

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‚eidetuonoH GAT

•yzeterseĉ Istmofoð sit

WHEN the time comes for a reconsidera- tion of international practice in time of i war in the light of experience gained i in the present momentous conflict-a conflict

sumo

we

that is making its effects felt throughout the world-one of the questions which will need to be dis- cussed is that relating to the obliga- tions resting on neutral Powers to prevent their ports being made bases of supply for belligerent warships. During the past two months this subject has been forced upon public attention by the fact that four ur five German cruisers have been roaming over the broad expanse of the southern seas between the Indian Ocean and the Polynesian Islands relying for their coal and other supplies on ships which must necessarily be despatched from

neutral port.

For instance, have seca the statement made that more than 33,000 toms of coal (not to mention great quantities of provisions) intended for the use of German warships, went out of Manila during the months of August and September. It is claimed that the Government of Manila was pawerlem to prevent the export of this coal inasmuch as the ships' papers did Dot show that the coal was intended for the 녹는 한 of ships engaged in the war. Let us examine this contention. Between August 8th and September 4th five ships-- one American (the Rio Pasiy, now held as a prize in Hongkong) and four German ships left the port of Manila with coal amounting in the aggregate to 14,800 tons, their ostensible destinations, according to the clearance papers, being Guam (under American jurisdiction), Menada (Java) and Bangkok, and at the present time, we understand, there are five German ships lofted with cual (12,500 tons) in Manila harbour, waiting, no doubt for a favourable opportunity to leave.

The

Port Authorities at Manila cannot escape a suspicion that the whole of this coal was intended for German warships, but their attitude, we take it, is: "We cannot go behind the ships' papers which show that this coal is for neutral ports. It is up to Germany's enemics to capture or sink German ships wherever they may be on the high seas, while in the case of a neutral ship, the Declaration of London lays it down that such a ship -carrying conditional contraband is liable to capture if she is found clearly out of the course indicated by her papers and unable to give adequate reasons to justify such deviation." In short, the attitude of neutral pert authorities would seem to be: If the ship's papers produced to us show that the ship has instructions to! sail for another neutral port we have no justification for refusing her clearance." If that is the case, then it is clear that the Port Authorities in neutral territoryĮ

1

ought in time of war to have their powers considerably enlarged. An obligation should rest upon them to do something more than this to satisfy themselves regarding the destination of ships carrying cargo which either of the belligerents has declared absolute or conditional contraband of war. It would not be too much to expect of neutral port authorities that they should require the captains of vessels loading contraband cargoes to furnish confirmation of their charters endorsed by a Consul residing at the specified port of destination; ie if the charter is for carrying | coal from Manila to Bangkok, confirms- tion by the American Consul at Bangkok should be necessary before clearance papers are granted to the ship. It is in their own interest that neutral Powers should take some such measures. One result of what has been happening in Manila is that Australia has stopped the export of coal to the Philippine Islands, while the Japanese Government, we under-. stand, is now demanding that a deposit representing double the value of the coal imported from Japan shall be made before shipment is permitted, this cash deposit being released only on production of sertificates from the Japanese Consul in Manila that such coal has been delivered to boná-fide customers at the port. The objection to this policy is that it imposes a heavy burden on the bond-fide customer, while it is ineffective to prevent Japane e coal reaching the warships of the Power with which Japan, in common with England, France and Russia, is at war, because if the coal is urgently needed, any price will probably be paid for it. It might, of course, be said in answer to this that a customer who had imported the coal with the approval of the Japanese Consul, and afterwards diverted it to uses which to the Japanese Government desired prevent, would not be likely to receive a second consignment. Most likely that is just what would happen, and Japan would be quite justified in the circum- The stances in taking such action. Government of the Philippines, or of any other territory where such practices obtain would be only safeguarding its own interests in marking down such firms as are carrying on this surreptitious trade. For a neutral Power depending for its coal supplies on outside sources to have those supplies suddenly cut off is a matter which is likely to induce reflexion on the policy responsible for such a step, and we have very little doubt that when the time comes for revising the international codes appli- cable in time of war, that those bearing on this particular question will reconsidered.

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