The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-13
BRITISH SEIZURES CAUSE HALT
OF ALL GRAIN EXPORTS HERE
Shippers, With Six Cargoes Diverted. Face Possible Loss
Of S1.5OOOOO-Decidc to Cancel Contracts
for Millions of Bushels
APPEAL TO BRYAN FOR PROTECTION FROM LOSS

Export grain dealers Of the UNITED
States and Canada decided yesterday to
cesse all attempts to supply wheat and
other grains and foodstufrs to Europe.
Not only will they cancel all existing
contracts which cal1 for deliveries be-
tween this date and the last OF septem-
Der, but they also will refuse to make any
further contracts.
In addition they filed a strong protest
with Secretary OF state Bryan against
the summary action OF the British Gov
ernm, mt in diverting all cargoes of grain
In British hulls, wherever found. no mat
ter where consigned. to n British port and
in ordering that all perishable goods be
sold at once by port authorities and all
other goods stored.
Six cargoes OF wheat valued at about
$3.50, 900 each have thus been seized and
the American shippers, so far as they
know, have lost about $1,000, 600. with
remote chance OF getting II back.
Action Advised by Moore.
The action OF the grain men yesterday
was taken by the special committee OF
the North American Export Grain Assoc
citation under the advice OF x-Assistant
Secretary OF Stat, John Bassett Moore,
their counsel. Mr.. Moore In an authority
on international law.
The committee consists OF Julius
Barnes OF Duluth. representing the ship
pers OF tho Northwest q, w Blanchard.
representing the shippers OF Canada
George sc. Jackson OF Baltimore, rep
resenting the Southern grain men. and
r @. Croweii OF Kansas City, represent.
ing tho middle West.
The committee remained in session for
nearly Ave hours. at the expiration OF
a A -. Al
the committee, announced that a cabled
despatch had been sen, to the London
Corn Trade Association, the Liverpool
Corn Trade Association and the Bristol
Channel and West Coast OF England Corn
Trade Association as follows:
I'VE are obliged TO inform your
association that the conditions result
ing from the existing hostil'tes are
effectually preventing shipments to
such an extent that We fear many
contracts must be considered rs can
celled
North American Expor. Grain
Association"
4 telegram had also been sent to every
member of the association. which takes In
all grain exporters Of the country az fol-
lows:
You are advised that the following
cable has been sent by your associs-
ton to the London, Liverpool AM
British Channel associations" "a
copy OF the cable message was in
serted)
Your special committee also ad-
vises you that In their opinion. in view
Of the memorandum handed ny the
British Embassy to the Department
OF state yesterday warning merchant
ships against entering the North Sea
because the planting ~ contact mines
has rendered a,igation there peril
Gus to the last degree, Il is not safe TO
attempt shipments to North Sea
ports In thu opinion Of our coun-
sci this condition constitutes proven
zion Of shipments and relieves You
from the obligation W making ship
ments 10 that quarter
JUiICs ". BARNES, chairman
Ash RryPp for Protection.
Tho message to Secretary OF state
Bryan was as follows:
During the past week many YES
sells carrying grain and other food.
stuffs from the United States TO Con
tinental ports have been diverted 10
English ports. The precise cause Of
these diversions are not as YET pre-
cisrly- known but we are advised
today that the British Admiralty ar
notifying ship owners to land tho ear
goes OF diverted vessels with the port
authorities who arc instructed 20
perishahle. We beg you to cable