Calcium,' captured by a Russian cruiser. It is that all
the cargo consigned to Japanese ports is confiscated, not because these goods were intended .for military purposes, but because they come under the new and arbitrary definition of contra- band set forth by Russia at the beginning of the present war. In this case, the goods declared to be contraband consist of flour, cotton, and hewn beams. As we understand it, an appeal from this decision may be made to St. Petersburg, and, we suppose, will be made ; but we fear that the result is not likely to be altered by such an appeal. In any event, it seems to be absolutely necessary for us to refuse to allow Russia's definition of contraband to prevail. If we have any regard to our national safety, we cannot allow the ordinary food of the civil population to be treated as contraband, and are bound to insist on foodstuffs carried by neutrals being exempt from seizure. Acquiescence in the opposite view might be fraught with the gravest consequences to a people, like ourselves, whose food comes to them in ships. In addi- tion to insisting that the foodstuffs carried by the Celebes ' must not be treated as contraband, our Government will be well advised to induce the Powers to hold a Conference for the purpose of coming to a clear general agreement as to what is contraband. Until such an agreement is reached we shall never be free from difficulties and anxieties while war is proceeding.
