Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-27
GREAT RRITAtN's ATTITUDE
 TOWARD coNTRARAND OF WAR Will Endeaver to Give Every Security Possible to Connneree Between Neu- traI Nations

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 endeayor to give every security possible in the interest of free and undisturbed trade. The documents constituted a general pronouncement lof British policy on the subject of con- traband.
 The essential points in the British latitude are:
 American shippers should take ade- iquate precaution to show the exact destination of their goods. mentioning either a specific consignee or a neu- ftraI government in their bills of lading. Great Britain will be guided by the American doctrine of continuous Voy- Iase or ultimate destination in re- spect to commerce between neutral ccuntries in articles generally known las conditional contraband. Absolute contraband, embracing munitions or war, is always subject to seizure and careful examination when carried Tn neutral ships.
 Cotton, which is specifically men, ltioned by Great Britain as neither ab- isolute nor conditional contraband, can ibe shipped in neutral vessels not only to neutral countries. but to all peIn- fgerents without molestation.
 The information sent from. London that the tanker Brindilla had been or dered released at Halifax, N. S., ana that the Platuria. held on the coast Of Scotland, similarly would be permitted to continue her voyage cleared up every pending question on the subject of shipping which had arisen in the past week between the United states and Great Britain. In both cases the principle set forth ill today'S commun1- cations from the British ambassador, were followed. namely. that on deter mining the exact destination Of the cargo as neutral. the vessels would not be held.
 Great Britair's decision not to raise the question of change of registry in either the case of the Brindilla or the PIaturia strengthened the helief of ad- lministration officials that there would fbe no further difficulty in this connec- .tion where the ownershsip of vessels was changed if their flag was contin- uously American. As yet there has been no test case of a change from German to American registry where transfer from a German company to ,an American concern was involved. There have been several such trans fers but in each case, it is understood British consuls have been satisfied that the transfer was of a bona fide char acter and have not recommended that the vessels be brought before prize court. "
 The attitude of the British govern ment in these matters was regarded by the Washington administration as ,eIninently satisfactory, the assurances that cotton cargoes would not be mo- tested even when bound for belligerent countries being particularly welcome. As result of these definite assur- ances Secretary McAdoo issued the following statement tonight
 There is no reason why underwrit- CTS who cover marine and war risk insurance should now hesitate to is- sue policies on cotton in neutral bot to1ne. so far as Great Britain is con- cerned.
 The tureau of war risk insurance of the treasury department is writing in surance freely on cotton when car ried in American vessels.