DEFENDER OF NEUTRAL RIGHTS. 265 



These are all questions the mere formulation of which indicates 

 how deeply they affect the structure of international law. In a 

 period characterized by extreme retaliatory measures by all parties 

 to the conflict, it is not likely that any real and permanent results 

 can be secured in preserving the structure of international law 

 unless the efforts receive united support. 



It is also incumbent upon the republics of America to give due 

 consideration to the question of neutral obligations. The unsatis- 

 factory condition of the law in this respect has been illustrated time 

 and again during the course of this war in the abuse of the hos- 

 pitality of neutral ports to secure coal, supplies and provisions for 

 belligerent squadrons. While the letter of the law has been com- 

 plied with, its spirit has been constantly violated, and the question 

 now presents itself with renewed insistence whether important modi- 

 fications should not be introduced into the law regulating the obli- 

 gations of neutrals in order effectively to guard against such abuses. 



The outbreak of the European war came so unexpectedly, deal- 

 ing such a severe blow to the economic and financial interests of all 

 the republics of America, that the first period of bewilderment was 

 followed by a period of anxious questioning with reference to their 

 position as neutrals. The uncertainties and anxieties of the situa- 

 tion were increased by the presence of belligerent squadrons in the 

 south Atlantic and south Pacific. The question of the interpreta- 

 tion of the rules relating to the shipment of supplies ostensibly 

 shipped in pursuance of legitimate commercial transactions, but in 

 reality intended for belligerent cruisers on the high seas, presented 

 a problem so difficult and delicate that no one country could hope 

 alone to grapple with the problem in a satisfactory way. Similarly 

 the question of preventing the ports of America from becoming 

 bases of operation was an exceedingly difficult one owing in part to 

 the extended coast line, and partly to the inadequate facilities for 

 patrolling the same. It was here that the opportunity presented 

 itself to the republics of America to assume a real position of leader- 

 ship in the preservation of international law. 



When the war broke out all arrangements had been completed 

 for the assembling of a Pan-American Conference in Santiago, 



