to a base of belligerent operations.
The question of contraband or no contraband only arises between the
neutral carrier and the belligerent when the latter claims to be
entitled to interfere with the trade of the former.

Since the rules applicable to the carriage of coal are, I venture to
think, equally applicable, to the carriage of foodstuffs, I may perhaps
be allowed to add a few words with reference to the letter addressed to
you a day or two ago by Sir Henry Bliss. I share his desire for some
explanation of the telegram which reached you on the 12th of this month
from British Columbia. One would like to know: (1) What is "the
Government," if any, which has instructed the Empress Line not to
forward foodstuffs to Japan; (2) whether the refusal relates to
foodstuffs generally, or only to those with a destination for warlike
use; (3) what is meant by the statement that "the steamers of the
Empress Line belong to the Naval Reserve"? I presume the meaning to be
that the line is subsidised with a view to the employment of the ships
of the company as British cruisers when Great Britain is at war. The
bearing of this fact upon the employment of the ships when Great Britain
is at peace is far from apparent. It is, of course, possible that the
Government contract with the company may have been so drawn, _ex
abundanti cautela_, as greatly to restrict what would otherwise have
been the legitimate trade of the company.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Oxford, February 20 (1904).

COTTON AS CONTRABAND OF WAR

Sir,--The text of the decision of the Court of Appeal at St. Petersburg
in the case of the _Calchas_ has at length reached this country, and we
are thus informed, upon the highest authority, though, perhaps, not in
the clearest language, of the meaning which is now to be placed upon the
Russian notification that cotton is contraband of war.

This notification, promulgated on April 21, 1904, was received with
general amazement, not diminished by an official gloss to the effect
that it "applied only to raw cotton suitable for the manufacture of
explosives, and not to yarn or tissues." It must be remembered that at
the date mentioned, and for some months afterwards, Russia stoutly
maintained that all the articles enumerated in her list of contraband of
February 28, 1904, and in the additions to that list, were "absolutely"
such; _i.e._ were confiscable if in course of carriage to any enemy's
port, i