The sun., 1915-06-25
Declares Cotton CargOes Not
Unwarrantably Inter-
fered With.
CLAIMS ARE SAID
TO BE ALL PAID

WASHINGTON, June 2a-The state
received to-day the follow
ing memorandum from the British
in regard to the enforce
ment Of the order in council as affect
ing American trade:
1. His Majesty's Government have
on various occasions and notably in
the communication which vas ad-
dressed to the United states 'Ambas-
sador on the 18th OF March last.
given assurances to the United states
Government that they would make IL
their first aim to minimize the In
convenience which must inevitably be
caused TO neutral commerce from the
existence OF a state of war AT sea ana
in particular from the measures
taken by the allied Governments Tor
the restriction OF the enemies oversee
trade.
In view OF the representation and
complaints made to this department
by the Ambassador from time to time
as to the peculiar hardships alleged
to have been wrongfully Inflicted on
American trade and shipping by the
operation OF those measures MS
Majesty's Government desires to oter
the following observations respecting
the manner In which they have con-
sistently endeavored to give practical
effect to those assurances.
2. 1t wfll be recalled that at the
moment when his Majesty's Govern
ment announced their measures
against enemy commerce they de-
clared their intention to refrain alto
gether from the exercise OF the right
to confscate ships or cargoes. which
belligerents had always previously
claimed in respect OF breaches OF
blockade that under Article V. t5)
OF the enactment O. the 1lth OF March
II was expressly provided that any
person claiming to be interested IN
goods placed in the prize court IN
pursuance OF the provision OF that
enactment might forthwith issue
writ against the proper onicer OF the
Crown, the object being to confer upon
claimants the right TO institute pro-
ceedings without waiting for the writ
of the procurator-general and thus
TO remove all possible cause OF legit-
innate grievance on account OF delay;
and that, finally. pacific assurance
was given to the United states Gov
ernment that the instructions to be
issued by his Majesty's Government
to the fleet and to the customs orr
cials and executive officers concerned
would impress upon them the duty or
acting with the utmost despatch con-
sistent with the object In view ana OF
showing In every case such considera-
ton for neutrals as might be COM
patible with that object; namely. 10
prevent vessels carrying goods for or
coming from the enemys territory.
Special Concessions Made.
3. The above measures were all de-
signed to alleviate the burdens inn
posed upon neutral sea borne com.
merce in general. Various special
concessions. over and above those
enumerated. have. moreover, been
made In favor Of United states citi-
zens.
1. Thus his Majesty's Government
have acted, as regards shipment OF
American cotton. in accordance with
the provisions OF an arrangement ar
rived at in direct collaboration with
representatives OF the American cotton
interests In accepting this scheme
the principal representatives OF those
interests described II as conceding all
that American interests could prop
erly ask. The provisions OF the ar
rangement were, as the United states
Amba assador Is aware, as follows;
%. An cotton for uhich contract
OF sale and freight engagements have
alrenv been made before the I'd Of
March is to be dllowed free Cor bought
at contract price II stoppcO. provided
the ship sails not later than the 3lst
Of March
(2). similar treatment is to be dc-
corded TO all cotton insured before the
2d OF March. propidcd It Is put on
board not later than the 18th OF
March.
(3). All shipments OF cotton claim
in1 the above protection are TO be
declared before sdi!ino and documents
produced to and certificates obtained
from consular officers or other author
ity fired BY the Government.
5. Considerable shipments OF cotton
have already been dealt with under
this arra ngement and in certain cases
the dates specified have been attended
in favor OF American shippers The
Board of Trade have already paid "A
sum exceeding fi50.O00 t2.25O, ,OOO)
to various American claimants and all
claims are being and will continue to
be paid as rapidly as they are pre-
sented and the proofs OF title can
be checked. II In some cases prog
ress has been dela"ed this has been
due to the fact-which has seriously
embarras ssed his MaJesty's Govern
ment-that n number OF consignments
for which the American shippers had
specifically invoked the protection OF
the arrangement are now claimed by
Swedish and Dutch firms whose title
OF ownership, Notwithstanding the ac-
ton Of the American shippers, ap-
pears in some cases to be valid and
in others has led to the issue OF writs
in the prize court.
M Claim ITnnnid.