Evening star., 1915-05-23

this protest. except by continuing to
seize vessels carrying cargoes OF non
contraband goods belonging to Ameri-
can citizens and destined to neutral
ports.
Cotton constitutes our greatest sin
gle commodity OF export. and the Bril-
ish statement deals especially with
cotton. As | WAS appointed chairman
OF committee OF senators October -.
whose duty il was to give attention to
the subject of cotton exports. ! wish
TO consider this part of the British
statement.
The excuse given for these seizures
by Great Britain is novel " declares
His majesty's government has acted
as regards shipments of cotton IN &C
cordance with the provisions Of an
arranEement arrived at In collahors
tion with representatives OF the Amer
lean cotton interests
The statement then contains tho
three propositions covering this ar
rangement. as follows:
a. All cotton for which contracts ~
sale and freight engagements ALREADY
have been made before March > is to he
allowed free transit or bought AZ the
contract price If stopped; provided tho
ship sails not later than March 3
"B. Similar treatment is 10 he ac-
corded all cotton insured before March,
=. provided u is put aboard not later
than March Is.
&C. All shipments of cotton claiming
the above protection are to be declared
before sailing and documents produced
and certificates obtained from consular
officers or other authorities fned hv
the government
Takes Issue.
II take issue with each of these
three statements No representative or
American cotton interests was authcr
lied TO make any such agreement. No
representative Of American cotton In
terests made any such agreement.
NO one had any authority TO waivs
the rights of American citizens to ship
ish seizure to neutral ports. and no
one for moment thought OF assert
ing such an authority.
mo one was authorized i'm London
to excuse Great Britain for the viola
tor of the rights of American cotton
1 merchants to ship their cotton to neu-
tral ports. and certainly no one was
authorized to waive the injury which
Great Britain would bring upon tho
cotton planters of the United states
German and Austrian spinners an
nually consume 3,ooo.ooo bales of
| Norway and Sweden annually consume
a large amount of cotton. The illegal
seizure of cargoes of cotton owned by
American citizens destined to the ports
VI T1oildiu, denmark, Norway ana
Sweden has stopped the effort TO ship
cotton to these countries and cut of
| this market from American citizens
The immediate effect is apparent
Following the British order of March
! l. and the seizure of cotton vessels
| since that time. the expectation of
cotton has fallen from 100000 bales
| in February, to $4,000 bales In April
or this amount Great Britain received
3ds.sOO bales: France, Italy. Russia and
Spain, 100000. and all the balance OF
! Europe. only $4,000 bales.
Cotton Fluctuation.
! Almost entirely as a result OF the
alleged action OF Great Britain cotton
has increased in price over cents a
pound on the continent of Europe
while 1t has fallen a cent and a half
pound in Great Britain and in the
United States
The curtailment of the European
| market by Great Britain would cut off
| 100000 bales OF consumption of this
years crop, and IL the crop amounted
| to 100000 bales. and its effect upon
| the crop was only a cent and half q
pound, il would cause a loss to cotton
growers of $7o,o00,000. AS about two
thirds of the crop is exported. 1t would
cause loss to the United States of
$5O,O00,000.
The British statement admits thai
| 1t is handling the cotton even in disre-
gard of the alleged agreement.
"A of the alleged agreement pro-
vides that the cotton is to be allowed
| free transit or bought at the contract
price. IL stopped
The alleged agreement provided
| that the vessel should go free or the
cargoes be bought at contract price. if
stopped. This paragraph shows that
the British government is stopping all
careoes of cotton destined to the neu-
~f hD1l of,l nAp IL Nor
way and Sweden. and is only offering
to pay for them at contract price, when
satisfied that the ultimate destination
of the cotton was not to Germany or
Austria