CONTRABAND GOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23951, 28 October 1939, Page 10

CONTRABAND GOODS

THE BRITISH POLICY IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW SOVIET NOTE CAUSES! , SURPRISE (British, Official Wireless) (Uriited Press ’Association) (By Electric Telegrahp—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 26. The Soviet Note with regard to the British contraband list was received in London officially only to-day, and is now being considered. In informed quarters, it is understood that it has. been received at,.this stage with considerable surprise, and it may be said that there is.no likelihood of the arguments it contains being admitted. British contraband policy and practice are fully in accordance with international law. Belligerents are entirely free to specify articles useful in the prosecution of war, which.they will regard as contraband, and the classes of goods treated as contraband in the British proclamation of September 3 correspond closely with those proclaimed to be contraband by both sides in.the last war, including the United States.

For instance, fuel, one of the classes of goods to the inclusion of which'exception is taken in the Soviet .Note, is an essential material in the conduct Of modern war, while cotton, which is also mentioned, is widely used in the .manufacture of explosives. Foodstuffs were also treated as conditional contraband as long ago as the eighteenth century. In view of the fact that an appeal is -made in' the Soviet Note to the 1909 Declaration of London, it is recalled that, although that declaration was never fully ratified by any Power, an attempt to. apply it was' made by Britain in the early stages of.the last war. This attempt broke down, and inasmuch as it excluded from the list of contraband such articles as metallic ores and cotton, the failure is not surprising. With regard to the practice followed by Britain in controlling trade in contraband of diverting ships to specified ports, this .is adopted owing to the proved impossibility of searching .and examining the, cargoes of large ships carrying a varied assortment of. general merchandise at sea, which was the older practice. ,