The Washington herald., 1914-11-10
CARGOESASSIRED
GREATERFREEDOM
Britain to Respect Right of
American Ships Bound for
Neutral Countries.
BIG ASSET TO TRADE
Sir Cecil Sprins-Riee Notifies State
Department His Government Will
Restrict Interference.
BIG ASSET TO TRADE

Prospects for greater freedom In
lconditions Of trade between the United
States and neutral countries adjacent
to Germany were conaiderably Inn
proved by deyelopments at the State
Department yesterday.
Sir CECIL Spring-Rice, British Am
bassador, brought word from his gov
ernment that the assurances given by
the governments of Norway, Sweden,
and Denmark. with respect to the pro-
hibition of the re-exportation Of ar
ticles of contraband imported into
those countries, were satisfactory to
Great Britain. This will restrict the
interference with neutral vessels car
rylng such cargoes to these countries
merely to an examination of papers,
The British Ambassador also brought
word that the british government would
not regard tobacco AID tobacco products
as contraband OF war. This question has
| been causing some anxiety TO the tobacco
interests of Kentucky, though needless
ly 90, as tobacco Is not listed as con-
traband by any one Of the belligerent
powers.
May Favor Importers Here.
A delegation Of wood importers came to
Washington yesterday for conferences
with State Department officiAls, and the
prospect is now good that embargoes i'm
DOEeQ Dg NTCdl allu AuElAAAA vi
expectation Of wool will be lifted in favor
OF American importers, II importers will
give satisfactory assurances to the Brit
ish that the wool will not be re-exported
to Germany.
State Department officials are greatly
pleased with these developments. They
believe they are an indication that even
tually all the present delicate and press
ing problems Of maritime trade will be
smoothed out.
The British Ambassadors statement
v ith regard to the satisfactory nature Of
the assurances given Great 3rTtain by
the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish gov
erriuena. was as follows:
I'VE are satisfied with the guarantees
offered BY the Norwegian Swedish, and
Danish governments as to the nom
expectation OF those contraband goods
consigned to a named person In Norway,
Sweden and Denmark which are Included
In the list OF prohibited exports issued
by the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish
governments to- see that such goods are
landed in Norwegian. Swedish and Dam
ish ports of destination and not subse-
quently exported or passed on in transit
to enemy country, orders have been given
to the British feet and customs authori-
ties at British ports to restrict interfer-
ence with neutral vessels carrying such
cargoes so consigned to vertiication OF
ships papers and cargoes.'
1t is understood that the British
confidently expect that similarly sat
isfactory arrangements may be con-
clUded soon with the governments of
the Netherlands and 1taly. The COM
pletion OF these arrangements would
then eliminate most Of the restrictions
to which trade from the United States
to those countries Is now subjected.
The question of copper remains still
unsettled. Meanwhile. the State De-
partment is seeking further data on
the normal copper trade of the United
States with Europe and the trade with
European countries in copper since the
beginning of the war. Thus II is hoped
to ascertain just how far the attitude
of the British in holding up copper
shipments to neutral countries adjoin-
ing Germany is hurting the normal
American trade. -