[JohnGalt]

Spoken like a liberal.

The "terms of neutrality" certainly do NOT dictate who we may and may not trade with. The terms of sovreignty certainly DO dictate just that. The choice is ours, not ze Germans.

I suggest remaining silent and thought a fool rather than posting and removing all doubt...Contraband(munitions for making war), were being sent to the British which violated international laws of neutrality, and by the 1856 Declaration of Paris, made vessels shipping contraband subject to search and seizure and capture. Shipping munitions on passenger vessels put the Germans in a tough spot.

The blockcade of Germany was 'illegal' under The Declaration of London, because it blocked food stuffs from neutrals, however, all the signatories of the DoL had not signed so it was not law per say.

[talk2farley]

The blockade of Germany was British, not American. It has nothing to do with your original argument (that our trade policies legitimized German unrestricted warfare on American vessels). Contraband is not defined as "munitions for making war," as you suggest. Rather, contraband is defined as "Goods or merchandise the importation or exportation of which is forbidden."

The United States had no prohibitions regarding the shipment of munitions to the allies, only regarding the shipment of munitions to the Germans. Therefore, the shipments in question were not contraband.

Moreover, there is no proof whatsoever that the Lucitania (the passenger ship to which I beleive you are indirectly reffering) was carrying munitions. This according to a History Channel special on the subject. So dont tout as fact what stands as rumor.

And dont be such an arrogant prick. Contrary to your "burst of insight," I am a staunch conservative, not a liberal. And whether or not someone who considers sinking a passenger ship on the grounds that it MAY be carrying munitions legitimate, but the sale of arms to one nation and not another illegitimate, considers me a fool is pretty god dman irrelevant in my mind.

Said person has missed out on a healthy dose of reality.