Word: contraband
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Dates: during 1910-1919
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...called armed neutrality is simply a method by which the United States may possibly induce the Germans to let armed vessels loaded with munitions escape, though under our previous practice unarmed vessels carrying contraband were liable to be sunk with notice. The sole alternative is for the Germans to fire upon a vessel prepared to fight and expected to reply with force. Therefore, apparently the only thing that can obviate war is for the Germans to forego their announced purpose of sinking every merchant ship that comes within the barred zone. Short of that, armed neutrality simply brings the whole...
...rights, is manifestly impossible, since we should be obliged to challenge practically the whole of Europe. Granting that Germany, by her submarine warfare, is contravening the principles of international law, what shall we say of the Orders in Council issued by the British Admiralty, whereby neutral cargoes of non-contraband goods are seized, in spite of the solemn guarantees of the Declaration of London, in which England and other signatories bound themselves to respect the non-contraband character of such goods? The recognition of the restrictions which would be imposed on American trade and passenger traffic if we were...
...European waters by setting aside a zone in the North Sea which, having been strewn with mines, neutrals were informed they would enter at their own risk? Suppose an American merchant vessel or passenger liner should decline to submit to such dictation, or, while engaged in non-contraband trade, en route for Hamburg or Bremen, or for some neutral European port, refused to regard the warning shot fired from a British vessel intent on its capture. In either case, would not American lives be sacrificed, or at least endangered...
...Peace Union wishes to discountenance our citizens on belligerent vessels laden with contraband. Have they not heard that all vessels--neutral and belligerent, regardless of cargo or anything else--are to be sunk on sight...
...time the Lusitania was sunk, we might have claimed at least a man's-size pretext. From the standpoint of a neutral American, I cannot see that Germany's conduct during the entire war differs from that of England, except in one point: that Germany, in sinking British contraband, has sunk Americans who were in close proximity thereto. I did not uphold Germany's action at the time, but as an American I saw no good reason why my country should assume the responsibilities of war on the strength of that occurence. Having allowed that crisis to pass, what reasonable...