The Sentinel=record., 1915-01-03
STATE DEPARTMENT STILL
WAITING FOR REPLY TO NOTE
ON NAVAL SITUATION.
ITALY MAKES EXPLANATION
Heavy Shipments of Copper From the
United States Resulted From Cur
tailed Supply From Other Sections
OF the World.

Washington, Jan. 26.-While no
word came from Ambassador Page to-
day as to the character OF the reply
which Great Britain will make to the
American note of protest concerning
interference with American trade
there were several developments In
the general shipping situation.
The United States asked Great
Britain for information as to how the
latter's statement made early in No
yember that naval stores, including
rosin, camphor and turpeatine. would
be regarded a snon-contraband. will
be reconciled in actual practice with
the notification from the British for
eign office of week ago saying these
products aow are absolute contra
band. Information is sought as to
how cargoes now en- route are to he
affected and whether resinous pro-
ducts are included in the classifiea-
ton.
The Italian ambassador informed
the state department that while sta.
tistics would make it appear that ex-
traordnary amounts of copper ship
ped from the United States to Italy
might be for unneutral purposes, the
fact of the matter was that as Ger
many needed her own copper, Italy
could no longer import from the coun.
tries Immediately TO the north of her
but must seek the metal n the Ameri-
can markets.
Much qualification was manifested
at the state department because or
the release by Great Britain of the
oil tank steamers Fiflis and Nara.
gansett since November 80 The case
of the Brindilla. originally detained
at Halifax and rearrested on her re.
turn journey from Egypt and taken to
a French port, Is looked upon as like
ly to produce complications.
Should the question of change of
registry be raised precedent may be
set, for while Great Britain has recog-
nized the transfers when OF a bona
fide nature, the attitude of France
has never been explicitly declared.
The communication which the state
department sent concerning naval
stores is said to be the first protest
on specific articles listed by Great
Britain as absolute contraband. In
the American note of protest ii was
stated that while the United States
objected to some of the classificaa-
tions made, the discussion of them<
would be reserved until an9tsxs,
time
The protest concerning naval stores
was communicated today to tlas gov.
ernments and senator's CT several
southern states. Rosin and turpen-
tine had been intended for ballast
with cotton cargoes ald the British
government is on record as stating
that cargoes so made up would not bs
regarded as contraband. The state
department had no sooner sent lotifi-
cation to this effect to shippers than
the British foreign office published its
new list.
To prevent the recurrence of char
ges that American shippers conceal
copper and contraband articles in cot
ton and other non-contraband cargoes.
the following formal notice supple
mentary to President Wilson's warn
Ing of last week was issued today by
Secretary Redfield of the department
of commerce:
The attention of shippers of goods
to neutral countries is called to the
Importance of having manifests com
plete and accurate. 1t is essential
also oavoid mixing contrabaad goods
in cargoes otherwise not contraband.
1t is alleged that some American
manifests have omitted certain con-
traband goods, also that efforts have
been made to conceal contraband ar
ticles or to alter their appearance so
that they will be allowed to pass.
"A single case of the kind is enuog'h
to embarrass all American commerce
to neutral cociItfies by throwing
doubt on the correctness of our mani
tests ald on the neutral nature OF our
cargoes, taus possibly involving delay
tn1ough examining cargoes that other.
wise would be avoided"