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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144711, 21 June 1915, Page 2

German writers have talked so much about American bronchos of neutrality that some people aro in real doubt as to what aro tho duties of neutrals in war time. The duty of the Government of a neutral country is to do nothing to assist cither belligerent, but that applies only to the government and not to the citizens of tho neutral country. They aro at perfect liberty' to trade with tho belligerents as in time of peace and to sell them anything, including munitions of war or whatever is likely to ho helpful to them in their campaign. This is a well-established principle of international law which has never been disputed. Thus American citizens aro perfectly within their rights in supplying Britain or her Allies with munitions or Germany with cotton or copper. If tho American Government wore to interfere with the passage of munitions to Britain o;* of copper to Germany it would at onto bo guilty of a breach of neutrality, as in one case it would bo "aiding Germany and in tho other siding with Britain. Tho belligerent Powers, however, look upon this trade from an entirely different point of view. They declare certain articles contraband of war, and these are liable to seizure if captured in course of transit to enemy countries. This point is clear enough, but complications arise when goods aro shipped from one neutral country to another, from which they may later bo passed on to an enemy country. The doctrine of ‘‘continuous voyage” ks then brought into action, which considers the ultimate, and not the apparent, destination as tho true port of discharge. This naturally leads to difficulties, for an American shipper may bona fido forward copper to a Dutch buyer and find tho vessel detained on the ground that tho copper might be passed on to Germany. As, however, Britain pays compensation in this caso there is no real hardship. It is, moreover, open to a neutral country to declare au embargo on certain articles, in other words forbid their exportation by land or sea. If this is done in good faith Britain will not prevent their importation, as they must bo used in tho importing country. This process was applied in tlic caso of wool sent to tho United States. The whole trouble which has arisen has been caused by tho fart that Britain commands tho sea and shuts off trade with Germany. Germany has therefore invented the new theory that it is a bleach of neutrality for American citizens to trade with Britain, as this is assisting the enemy. It would, of course, on the Gorman view, not ho a broach of neutrality for them to trado with Germany. Even Mr. Bryan was compelled to point out to Germany the absurdity of her contention, so one may safely say that it has not the slightest foundation in international law.

Mr. Robert Burns, president of the Auckland Chamber’ of Commerce, .appears to take a very pessimistic view of the prospects of tho dairying and meat freezing industries on account of tho scarcity of shipping tonnage. Ho remarked tho other day that “if something in not done, and done soon, tho farmers of Now Zealand will, during this coming season, simply be pouring their milk into the creeks, because there will be no use lor it. Tho freezing stores nro full already, and the position facing tho dairy farmer will bo that Jr© will have no storage^accom-,

mentation and no shipping facilities.” Mr. Burns evidently docs not understand tho position well. Tho fact is that tho hatter stores aro unusually empty just now, and there is every prospect that when tho now season opens there will be scarcely a box of old butter left in the stores. Thoro may ho a larger stock of cliocso than normal, but that is not in the butter freezing chambers, and should there ho any likelihood of a .serious congestion in tho cheese stores these can soon bo added to, since the temperature does not require to be so low as in the ease of butler. There is not likely to ho much dairy produce going into tho stores during tho next two months, for not a great number of cons come in until well into August, and by that time there is a good prospect of the shipping companies overcoming the difficulty they have had in providing, tonnage. Tho meat works aro not in such a pood position, but hero again tho position is certain to improve in tho next two months, for not only is there'a large fleet of steamers on the way out from Homo for tiro purpose of loading meat, hut the killing season is almost at an end and there will not he. a very great amount coming forward until the end of the year. The idea of farmers pouring their milk into the creeks is absurd, been use if there is a threatened congestion farmers can quite easily rear a large number of calves, which need not como info tho freezing works for three years or more. However, it is probable that the demands of the Imperial authorities for shipping for transport of troops will presently relax, with tho rosnlt that many steamers hitherto employed for that purpose will he released. AVo do not think the dairy fanners need ho anxious on that score.