The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-10-27
COTTON HOT Held
AS CONTRABAND
MAKES A TRANSPORTA-
TON RULING THAT WILL AID
THIS COUNTRY.
Cotton Is Neither Conditional Nor Alb
solute contrsband of War and May
Be Freely Shipped.

Washington, Oct. 26.-Great Britain
in two notes presented today to the
state department by the British am
bassador, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, de-
fined her attitude toward commerce
between neutral countries as one OF
rigid endeavor to give every security
possible in the interest of free and
undisturbed trade. The documents
constituted a general pronouncement
of British policy on the subject of
contraband.
TIL essential points in the British
attitude are:
American shippers should take ade-
quate precaution to show the exact
destination of their goods, mentioning
either a specific consignee or a neu-
tral government in their bills of lad
ing.
Great Britain will be guided by the
American doctrine of continuous voy-
ages or ultimate destination in re-
spect to commerce between neutral
countries in articles generally known
as conditional contraband. Absolute
contra band, embracing munitions OF
war, is always subject to seizure and
careful examination when carried in
neutral ships.
Cotton, which is specifically men
toned by Great Britain as neither alb
solute nor conditional contraband can
be shipped in neutral vessels not
only to neutral countries but to all
belligerents without molestation
The second note stated the general
policy of Great Britain on the subject
of contraband.
The announcement from London
that the American tanker Brindilla
had been released at Halifax, ~ S.,
and that the PlatuTia, held on the
coast of Scotland, were permitted to
go on her voyage cleared up every
pending question on the subject of
shipping which had arisen in the past
week between the Uaited States and
Great Britain.
Great Britain's decision not to rise
the question of change of registry in
the Platuria strengthened the belief
Of administration officials that there
would be no further difficulty in this
connection where the ownership of
vessels which changed their flag was
continuously American.
AS yet there has been no test of a
change from German to American reg
istry where a transfer from a Ger
man company to an American concern
was Involved. There have been sew
eral such transfers. but in each case
it is understood British consuls have
been satisfied that the transfer was
of bonafide character and have not
recommended that the vessels be
brought before a prize court.
The attitude of the British govern
ment in these matters was regarded
by the Washington administration as
eminently satisfactory the assurances
that cotton cargoes would not be mo-
Tested even when bound for belliger-
ent countries being particularly well
come, AS a result of these definite
assurances Secretary McAdoo issued
this statement tonight:
There is no reason why underwrit
ers who cover marine and war risk
insurance should now hesitate to is
sue policies on cotton in neutral bot
toms, so far as Great Britain Is con
cerled.
The bureau of war risks insurance
of the treasury department in writing
insurance freely on cotton when car
ried in American vessels"