Evening star., 1915-01-11

1T is true that there may have been
a falling off in cotton exports, as to
which New York figures would be no
guide, but his matesty's government
have been most careful not to interfere
with cotton. and it's place on the free
list has been scrupulously maintained.
I'VE do not wish to lay too much
stress upon incomplete statistics; the
figures above are not put forward az
conclusive. and we are prepared to
examine any further evidence with
regard to the state of trade with these
neutral countries which may point to
a different conclusion or show that i,
is the action of his majesty's govern
ment in particular. and not the exist
ence of a state Of war and consequent
diminution Of purchasing power and
shrinkage of trade which is respon-
sible for adverse effects upon trade
with the neutral countries.
Diminution Of Purchasing Power.
That the existence of state of
adverse effect upon certain great in
dustries, such as cotton, is obvious,
but 1t is submitted that this is due to
the general cause of diminished pur-
chasing power Of such countries az
France. Germany and the United King
dom, rather than to interference with
trade with neutral countries. In the
matter of cotton, it may be recalled
that the British government gave spe-
cial assistance, through the Liverpool
Cotton Exchange, to the renewal OF
transactions in the cotton trade of not
only the United Kingdom, but OF many
neutral countries.
Your excellency's note refers in par
ticular to the detention Of copper. The
figures taken from official returns for
the export of copper from the United
States for Italy for the months during
which the war has been in progress
up to the end Of the first three weeks
of December are as follows:
Nineteen thirteen, 15,2O2,O00 pounds
1914, 36,2S5,000 pounds. Norway. Swe-
den, Denmark and Switzerland are not
shown separately for the whole period
in the United States returns, but are
included in the heading "Other Europe
(that is, Europe other than the United
Kingdom. Russia, France, Belgium,
Austria, Germany. Holland and 1taly)-
The corresponding figures under this
heading are as follows:
Nineteen thirteen, 1921, 900 pounds;
1914, 35,347,000 pounds.
Copper Destination.
with such figures the presumption
is very strong that the bulk Of copper
consigned to these countries has been
intended not for their own use. but for
that of a belligerent who cannot i'm
port it direct. 1t is therefore an i'm
perative necessity for the safety of this
country while 1t is at war that his mai
esty's government should do all in
their power to stop such part Of this
import of copper as is not genuinely
destined for neutral countries.
Your excellency does not quote any
particular shipment Of copper to Swe-
den which has been detained. There
n
Sweden at the present time OF copper
and aluminium which, though definite
ly consigned to Sweden, are, according
to positive evidence in the possession
Of his majesty'S government, definitely
destined for Germany.
II cannot believe that, with such fig
ures before them and In such cases as
those just mentioned. the government
propriety of the action of his majesty's
government in taking suspected car
goes to a prize court, and we are con-
vinced that it cannot be In accord with
the wish either of the government or
of the people of the United States to
strain the international code in favor
of private interests SO as to prevent
Great Britain from taking such legiti-
mate means for this purpose as are in
her power.
Concerning Foodstuffs.
Win TcSdTQ u tuo SclAuIo " iOOu-
stuffs. to which your excellency refers
his majestys government are prepared
to admit that foodstuffs should not be
detained and put into a prize court
without presumption that they are in
tended for the armed forces of the en-
envy or the enemy government. We be-
lieve that this rule has been adhered to
in the practice hitherto, but II the
United States government have instances
to the contrary We are prepared to ex-
anime them, and 1t Is our present in
tention to adhere to the rule, though
we cannot give an unlimited and un-
conditional Undertaking in view of the
departure by those against whom we
are fighting from hitherto accepted
rules Of civilization and humanity and
the uncertainty as to the extent to
which such rules may be violated by
them in future.
"From the 4th of August last to the
Sd of January the number of steam
ships proceeding from the United States
for Holland. Denmark, Norway. Swe-
den and Italy has been 773. OF these
are forty-five which have had consign-
ments or cargoes placed in the prize
court, while of the ships themselves
only eight have been placed in the prize