Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-30
AGREES TO MODIFY
ORDERS IN COUNCIL
Great Britain to Make Trade
Concessions to Meet U. S.
Complaints.
PROOF AS TO OWNERSHIP
MAY BE SUBMITTED HERE
Ambassador Spring-Rice Explains
Plan to Expedite Release of
Detained Cargoes.

Concessions in the enforcement
against American commerce of the
British order in council were announc-
ed today as a result of informal nego-
tiations just completed by the foreign
trade advisers of the State Depart
ment.
The British ambassador. Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, assured the trade advisers
that their informal representations in
cases where the British orders have
caused undue hardships" to American
commerce will receive special consid-
Grafton.
Consideration for Neutrals.
Before June - the British authorities
declined to enter into informal nego-
tiations with the trade advisers in any
cases.
The British note dealing with the de-
Neches, however, sent July 81 set forth
that in cases where Hardship may be
inflicted on citizens of neutral coun-
tries" the British government would
examine the facts in a spirit of con-
sideration for the interests of neu-
trails.
Informa ton in the hands of the State
Department that private brokers were
obtaining permits in London for spe-
cial shipments of American goods from
Rotterdam, while the trade advisers
were unable even to present special
cases, was transmitted to London.
Explained by Ambassador.
The amba ssador called at the State
Department personally to explain the
extent of the British concessions, which
are specially intended to meet the
growing complaint of American import
ers that their Christmas trade is
threatened by failure to obtain goods
made in Germany and Austria for
which they had contracted.
Generally speaking, it issthe inten-
ton of the British government to per-
init the passage through the blockade
lines of goods for which the American
importers have entered into contract
with German and Austrian firms.
Heretofore it has been required that
the money shall have actually been
sufficient to show that they were regu-
larry contracted for and that the Amer
lean importer is really the person re-
SponSible for them and title rests with
him. Goods valued at many millions
of dollars have accumulated at Rotter-
dam and await transportation to the
United States. The order applies to
these. but whether it will extend to
goods yet in German factories, but I'M
der contract for delivery on this side
of the Atlantic, is yet undetermined.
Supplied Required Proof.
The success of private interests in
London represented by special attor-
neys in securing the release of about
100000 worth of such goods now on
the docks is explained at the British
embassy here as due to the fact that
the local attorneys there were able
to secure and present to the British
authorities the proof required as to the
character of the goods and the condi-
lions of contract.
Now it is planned to permit Amer
lean importers to present proof at the
British embassy here, which, it Is be-
lieved, will greatly facilitate importa-
tons.
The entire responsibility for the hold
ing up of dyestuffs of German manu-
facture intended for America is placed
by the British authorities upon the
German government and it is alleged
that a contrary impression has been
sought to be created because of ILL
feeling against Great Britain. To set
itself straight in this matter the Brit
ish embassy today issued the follow
ing statement:
Statement From Embassy.
April IA Il formal notice was issued
by the British government that they
would allow vessels carrying two ship
ments of dyestuffs, which were paid
for by delivery in Germany of certain
cotton cargoes, to pass without inter
ference provided the vessels sailed UNI
der a neutral flag; that the shipments