TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-11-03

right, which she does now maintain
to stop our export to neutra
countries which do not engage
themselves TO prevent the ex
portation Of goods to countries will
which she Is at war, this insolence woult
not have been tolerated for moment
while our present secretary OF state
Mr.. Bryan. submits to 1t, and at best
utters feeble remonstrance which as In
the case Of the "Kroonland" IL
not even deigned OF an answer. We car
not remember single nance in the
history of our country that we were
treated with such outrageous contempt
The great injury to our country, apart
from the gross disrespeet, appears from
the protests OF our copper men.
Four large American companies which
handle metals - the American Smelling
and Refining Company, the American
Metal Company and the Consolidated
Metals Company have entered protest
at the state department against the
seizure by British warships OF vessels
carrying copper. These companies sent
the following telegram, dated October
2s, to William ]. Bryan, Secretary oi
State;
THE undersigned, representing nearly
ninety per cent Of the copper export
trade of this country, have the honor
to lay before you the following facts;
We learned yesterday by cable that the
italian steamers "San Giovanni" and
Regina dItalia" have been seized by
British authorities at Gibraltar because
part of cargoes consist OF copper shipped
from this country. The "San Giovanni
has four hundred and fifty tons belong
ing TO American Smelling and Refining
Company and consigned In conformity
with universal practice in the trade to
order Of that company at Genoa. The
Regina dItalia" has eleven hundred
and sixty tons, of which one hundred
and fifty belong to the American
Smelling and Refining Company, two
hundred to tho American Metal Comp
any, four hundred and ten TO the Cons
olidated Metals Company and four
hundred to the United Metals Selling
Company, practically all being consigned
in the usual course in the same way.
I'VE are further advised by shipping
agents that he American Line steamship
"Kroonlandn, flying the American flag
and having on board eight hundred tons
of copper belonging 10 the American
Smelling and Refining Company. and
five hundred 10 the United Metals Sell
ing Company, has also been seized and
is detained at Gibraltar, the copper be-
ing consigned in usual course as in the
other cases. Moreover, we have just
been notified BY the New York agents
Of the sicilian American Line that, for
reasons whicn cannot be explained, II
absolutely declines TO ship any copper
by its steamship 'san Giorgio', and tbs
Lloyd sabaudo Line has given notice OF
its refusal Of a shipment Of copper and
cancellation Of contract unless the name
OF an Italian consignee shall be given
together with q guarantee that the
copper shall not be reexported from
ITALY, which guarantee 1t is manifestly
impossible for the American exporter ts
give.
These measures Of interference Will
our commerce threaten to stop alto
gether the expectation Of copper from
the United States to Europe, and thii
means practically the stopping Of tbs
entire export business in that metal
except TO England and France, since
there is no demand for the American
product outside Europe. The stopping
Of the export trade would affect dis
astrously the copper mining industry
throughout the West. We beg ieav'
respectfully to ask consideration Of tbs
facts above set forth, and such repres
entations and action by our Government
as It may deem appropriate for the
relief OF the critical situation in which
the industry we represent Is now placed
and we shall be very grateful 10 b'
acquainted Of the action taken by thu
Department to that end.p
AS we have stated. the feeble protest
OF our state department in the case o.
the "Kroonland" was left unanswered
The reason is obvious. England know
that she has nothing TO fear from oui
weak ADMINISTRATION. A sharp ant
decided declaration that we know oul
rights and are determined TO maintain
them would stop these outrages snt
protect our foreign commerce which a
this time is Of such vital Importance 4
our country. But since this determinat
ion is lacking. the United States ar
subjected to the CALLING and insulting
treatment OF defenceless countries lik'
Holland and Denmark. To our grea
surprise even the american press fail
in her duty to defend our commerce ans
our national dignity against the insults
of Great Britain.