Translation of circular of April 14, 1854., April 15, 1854

Translation of circular of April 14, 1854.

It having come to the knowledge of the minister of foreign affairs that plans exist to export ammunition of war, contrary to the duties imposed by the laws of peoples, to neutrals, he thinks it his duty to call the attention of ship-owners and ship-chandlers to the danger to which they would expose themselves by such expeditions, but also to the fatal consequences and trouble which Dutch vessels would have to suffer, if with the belligerent powers the confidence could not exist that said flag will not be used in any case for any unlawful transport of contraband of war.

[574] By the assurance, received by the King’s government, that the rule (free ship, free goods) will be respected by all the belligerent powers, that for contraband of war and for dispatches for one of the belligerent powers alone an exception will be made, and that the search, whether vessels carrying the Dutch flag contain such contraband, will be made in the easiest manner possible, it is for *the honest trader and ship-owner of the greatest import, that everywhere the conviction exists, that no abuses will take place under protection of the Dutch flag, and that, as such, no cause be given to raise unfavorable opinions about those having the privilege to use this flag.

His Majesty’s government would be unable to protect vessels which, contrary to the duty of neutral states, contained contraband of war, or were charged with forbidden dispatches.