Evening star., 1914-12-31
England Will Heed U. S. if She
Values Friendship, Says
Senator Walsh.
SEIZURE OF SHIPMENTS
OF COPPER is SCORED
Interference With Commerce Will
Bring Business Disaster Here
and Abroad, He Declares.

Making vigorous protest against the
eourse pursued by Great Britain In
Selling shipments of copper from ports
OF the United States destined to neutral
countries, Senator Walsh of Montana
today declared in the Senate that II
Great Britain values the good opinion
of the United States she will heed the
note of protest sent by President Will
son to Sir Edward Grey.
ut will be the duty of our govern
snent, as conceive It: will be recog-
nized as the duty Of every government
among the family Of nations outside of
Great Britain, when the question pre-
sented by these seizures are being
solved. to bend every effort to maintain
the integrity of the laws governing
neutral trade as 1t has been developed
through three centuries of struggle for
freedom" he said.
Senator Walsh recited the fact that
the United States is the largest pro-
ducer of copper in the world. that she
produces more than Gne-hah of the
copper mined, and that, while this
country is the largest user Of copper.
still 81 per cent of the copper pro-
dEced here is exported.
Our foreign market is, consequent
ly, vital to the copper industry" said
senator Walsh. Any interference with
the shipments Of copper abroad. he
pointed out, would eventually bring
about business disaster both here and
IN the neutral countries which use
American copper
BY the action Of Great Britain in
selzing copper shipped to neutral ports
ne said, all the leading producers OF
copper In. this country have been forced
to curtan their output to the extent
of nearly so per cent.
Not Declared Contraband-
Copper. said Senator Walsh, had not
been declared contraband of war by
Great Britain or any other belligerent
power, either conditional OF actual, for
Two months after the war broke out In
Europe. September 81. he said, decla-
ration by Great Britain made copper
conditional contraband, and a further
proclamation, October 39. made it alb
solute contraband of war.
Senator Walsh cited authorities, both
English and American, to show that
shipments Of contraband of war from
a neutral country to another neutral
country were not, subject of seizure
uufees II could be shcF"n. concIusively
TO be sent to one Of the bellfgerents
Tor uss OF It's argsies In making war.
Seized by Great Britain.
'sincA the commencement of the,war,''
said Senator Walsh, shipments of cop
per from the United States to ports of
neutral nations on the continent, reach
ing the enormous aggregate of 1855
long tons, have been seized and are
being held by Great Britain as contra
band the merchandise involved has a
value Of $5,000,O00. Twenty-eight ships
have been relieved of their copper
freight. four destined to Holland, four
teen to Italy and ten to Sweden"
He insisted that these seizures had
been made even when all the proof
showed that they were destined to neu-
trail countries for consumption in neu-
trail countries, and tnat instead of hay-
ing the matter adJudged by prize courts
without delay, Great Britain was still
more tnan ninety days had elapsed
since the seizure.
Natural Conclusion.
This unreasonable delay" said sena-
tor Walsh. leads naturally to the con-
clusion that the proceedings are no,
pressed because the authorities are
convinced that no English court will
undertake to assert and justify, in the
lace of the world, rule of iEterna-
tiopal law upon which judgment OF
connscation can be upheld"
senator Walsh explained to the Sen
ate. also. that Italy and Sweden had
issued embargoes upon the export OF
copper imported from the United
States TO Germany or other beiligerent
powers. But even this did not satisfy
the English authorities, he said.
1T would be exhibiting the virtue OF
candor at least said Senator Walsh
If the government of Great Britain
should declare that it is her purpose
to starve Germany, SO far as copper il
concerned, however the neutral ma
1tonS may fare or the laws of nations
apay be wrenched, or even dened in the
process.