Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-27
Great Britain Assures U. S.
Cargoes for Neutral Nations
Will Go UnmoIested.
sOTTON CAN BE SENT
TO COUNTRIES At WAR
Question of Change Of Registry Not
Raised by England-Warning
as to Contraband.

Every question the subject OF
shipping which has arisen between the
United States and Great Britain has
been adjusted satisfactorily for the
shipping interests of this country. j.. 81.
Great Britain has officially announced
that no American cargo properly con-
signed to a neutral country will be in
terfered with. 1t was also announced
from London that the American tanker
Brindilla has been ordered released at
Halifax. n. =, and that the Platuria
held on the coast Of Scotland similarly
would he permitted to continue her
voyage
In both cases the principle set forth
in communications from the British
ambassador Were followed, namely,
that on determining the exact destina-
ton If the cargo as neutral the YES
sells would not be held.
Attitude Satisfactory.
The altitude of the British govern
ment in these matters was regarded
by the Washington administration as
eminently satisfactory. assurances that
cotton cargoes would not ne molested
even when bound for belligerent coun-
tries being particularly welcome. AS
Secretary McAdoo issued ne following
statement:
There is no reason why underwriters
who cover marine and war risk insur-
ance should now hesitate to issue pol
icics cotton in neutral bottoms, SO
far as Great Britain is concerned. The
pureau of war risk insurance of the
Treasury department is writing insur-
ance freely on cotton when carried in
American vessels.
Belief of Officials.
Great Eritain's decision not to raise
the question OF change of registry in
either the ease Of the Brindilla the
Platuria strengthened the belief of adj
IniniStration officials that there would
be difficulty in this connection
where the ownership of vessels which
changed their flag was continuously
American.
As yet there has been no test case of
change from German to American
registry where a transfer from a Ger
man company to an American concern
wa involved. There have been sew
eral such transfers. but in each case
1t is understood British consulS have
been satisfied that the transfer was Of
q bona flie character and have not
recommended that the vessels be
: brought before prize court
Desires Undisturbed Trade.
Great Britain, in two notes present.
ed last evening to the State Depart
n,ent by the British ambassador, Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice, defined her attitude
toward commerce between neutral
countries as one of rigid endeavor to
give every security possible in the In
terest of free and undisrurbed trade.
The documents contributed a general
pronouncement of British policy on the
subject of contra band.
The essential points in the BRUSH at
titUGe are:
American shippers should take ade-
quate precaution to snow me 49,.
destina ton of their goods. mentioning
either h specific consignee OF neutral
government In their bills Of lading. >.
Will Follow q. S. Doctrine.
Great Britain will be guided by the
American doctrine of continuous voyage
or ultimate destination" in respect to
commerce between neutral countries Ia
articles geners-NG known as conditional
cOntraland.
Absolute contraband. embracing NUM-
lions of war. Is always subject to
seizure and careful examination When
carried in neutral ships.
cotton. which is specifically mentioned
w Great Britain as neither absotuie nor
conditional contraband, can be shipped
in neutral vessels not only to neutral
countries. but to all belligerents with
out molestat ion.
Texts of Communications.
., Tie texts OF the two communications
presented by the British ambassador on
instruction from Sir Edward Grey fol-
low:
In compliance with your request. l
teiesraphed on tine ed instant to my
government to inquire what was their
view with regard to cotton and wheth-
er or no they considered 1t to be con-
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