New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-07
CERMANY'S COPPER
GOING VIA ITALY
British Take Measures to
Stop Exports from
This Country.

London, Nov. 6. Information is in
the possession of the British govern
ment. it is said. which proves con-
clusively that very large shipments of
copper, rubber and other commodities
are passing through Italian ports on
their way TO Germany.
In New York large purchases Of cop
per are being made by representatives
of houses IN Rotterdam, Amsterdam
and Copenhagen. who, it is stated, are
working on German account. Direc-
tons at the same time are given that
these consignments of copper are to be
shipped through Italian ports to the
order Of various financial institutions,
which are said to be controlled largely
by German capital. American copper
refners appear TO be capable of pro-
tccting their own interests, since they
usually insist on payment in cash be
fore they allow the copper to be
shipped.
The British government rs deter
mined that IL will use every legitimate
means TO prevent copper reaching Ger
many whore it is being made into am
munition for use against the British
forces Great Britain, therefore, Is
diverting Various steamers which are
carrying copper to Italy to Gibraltar.
where the copper is discharged. The
steamers are promptly released. Some
of this copper actually has been found
packed i'm cases marked for DanZig.
Other lots are shipments made upon
orders through German houses in Am
sterdam and Rotterdam. Some of these
house, are said TO be connected with
the Krupps. manufacturers Of blg
guns Il is understood that represent
atives Of some big copper refining firms
recently sailed from New York for
Europe with the object of consulting
agents of German firms as TO the best
means Of forwarding copper to Ger
many. italian firms also have been APP
preached by German purchasers OF cop
per with a view Of arranging for the
use of the names of the former for the
purpose of concealing the fact that
American copper shipped to the pur-
chasers is destined for Germany.
Since October % vessels bound from
New York for Italy having on board
a total of 200 tons Of copper have
been diverted TO Gibraltar, and the
British government is informed that
some thousands Of tons additional are
now en- route 20 Italy. The larger part
o. these copper shipments were for
Genoa. Official returns just published
show that for two and One-half months
prior 10 October 10 imports of copper
into Genoa amounted to only 1916 tons.
A comparison of these figures with the
more recent shipments shows, it IS
said tina. the present trade in copper
with Italy is entirely an artificial one
and that the Italian imports are not for
the consumption Of that country.
In view Of all this accumulative evil
dence. the British government main
tains that there is no alternative left
but 20 stop this contraband trade IN
copper with Germany through Italy.
With a few possible exceptions, Amerl-
can exporters do not suffer, as they
have been paid already. but the British
Government. not wishing 10 be unrra-
sonable b. any way. is prepared, 50 Tar
as concerns shipments made before DC
tober %. when copper was transferred
from the conditional 10 the actual con-
traband list. 20 arrange for the pur-
chase Of copper which 1t has detained.
The British steamer Italia, of the
Anchor Line. bound from New York to
Mediterranean ports, ~has been detained
at Gibraltar The authorities there
state that the Italia has contraband Of
war aboard This information is con-
tanned in a dispatch from Gibraltar to
Lloyd's shipping agency.