New-York tribune., 1914-11-12
new DUTCH LAW
HITS U. S. SHIPPERS
Government MonopOlizeS
Food Importations Via
Holland-America Line.
EXPORTERS MUST
FIND NEW ROUTE
State Department Explains
Copper Men Complain-Eng-
land to Keep Australian Wool.

Copper Men Complain-Eng-
land to Keep Australian Wool.
Washington, Nov. 11.--Holland has
created a practical government monop-
oily Of the importation into the Neither
lands of -four. foodstufS, cereals and
cattle foods. The State Department an
nounced tonight that the Netherlands
g, ernmeut had entered into a contract
with the Holland-Amerioa Line, the
only neutral steamship line plying reg
ularly between ports in the United
States and the Netherlands, whereby
private shipments will not c accepted
by that line.
Definite information as 10 Hollands
position had been sought by American
millers. who protested to the State De
partment that the action Of Holland, II
followed by other neutral countries,
would demoralize the American -four
trade. The following statement was
issued on the subject by Counsellor
Robert Lansing:
The Department Of State has been
informed by Minister van Dyke that
the Netherlands government has made
q contract with the Hollard-America
Line whereby the ships Of that line
carrying cargo bought by or consigned
10 the Netherlands government Will not
accept private cons ignments OF contra
band or conditional contraband, there
by creating practical governmo mental
monopoly OF embarEoes on cereals and
cattle foods.
Private Shipments.
Shipments Of -four and other food
stuffs consigned to privat- firms IN
Holland will not be barred from Dutch
ports when carried in American or
other neutral vessels, but the Holland
America Line cannot accept such ship
ments. The Netherlands government
does not intend to forbid the fulfilment
OF private contracts for shipments Of
such goods made before the war, but
under the existing conditions private
Dutch importers having such contracts
for American foodstuffs should apply
10 the Department Of Commerce Of the
Netherlands government for permis-
sion 70 have such goods consigned TO
or bought by the Dutch government.
This inform, tion was sought and
obtained 20 the instance of certain
American Touring mills and other eX-
porters Of foodstuffs.'
Will State Department officials re
fused 20 make any further comment. II
is known that the American govern
ment has no way of interfering with
such a monopoly as Holland has ere
ated. such on &C. being entirely within
he sovereign right of every nation
Germany and Austria have oil and to-
bacco mOnOpOlieS. respectively.
Just what Efforts would be made by
millcrs 20 obtain ships that would
carry their -four 10 Dutch ports is not
known here. but q move in that dlrec-
uon seemed 10 officials 20 offer q pos
sible solution OF the problem. Other
wise the effect OF the monopoly will
he. 10 Is believed, 70 bring the Neither
lands government into the market as
purchaser OF -four, with the probehl
NV that Holland would force American
dealers 10 sell at lower price than
that at which other nations obtain.
Copper Men Protest.
Senator Hughes. of New Jersey. laid
before the State Department to-day
Nf0kteA 4A0AA a. -AN NNFIN- NN-+'
ranies Of his state against the att
,ude Of Great Britain on the shipments
Of copper 10 neutral countries.
The petition sets forth that Great
Britain has no right 70 interfere with
cargoes plying between neutral coun-
tries, and states that restrictions such
Is Great Britain has placed on COM
merce will seriously threaten the cop
per industry OF the United States
Great Britain rs insisting that cop
rer carCoes be sent 10 q SPECIFIC con-
signee in neutral countries, otherw Sc
% will be suspected OF having an ulu-
mate destination i'm a beligcrent coun-
NV. The State Department has en-
tered as yet into no agreement on the
subject simply presenting the CLAIM
and protests Of American shippers IN
the hope Of facilitating trade.
Ambassador Page has reported from
London that Great Britain for the pres
ent is unwilling to modify the embargo
on the expectation of wool from Aus
tralia. Wool dealers, however, are
hoping. through the State Department
20 continue negotiations so as 10 enable
them to participate in the auction sales
soon 20 be held in Australia.
England Wants the Wool.
The British government is unutf'
stood 70 have replied 90 Ambassador
Page that for the present the mother
country would use all the wool raised
I'M Australia. though when il became
apparent that there would be a surplus
some arrangement might be mad,
whereby American firms could Obtain
part Of the product The only con
dtion under which they could get any
wool, however, would be with guaran
tees that the product be used only u
manufacturing goods contracted for b.
Great Britain.
Wool dealers have represented TO the
State Department that unless they are
able 10 know just when they will b
permitted TO import wool from Aus
tralia they cannot safely enter th'
auction sales there. Further negoti
ations arc being conducted by the for
eign trade advisers of the State De
partment in an effort TO have American
importers permitted al least to obtain
licenses 70 exDort from Australia wool