Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
WANT COTTON DECLARED /.
ABSOLUTE C0NTRABAN1
London Papers, in Editorials, Urge
Government to Take De-
cisive Action. /
PURCHASE SCHEME ADVOCATED
Contemplates Buying From South
Amount OF Staple That Normally,
Would Have Gone to Germany and
Austria-Hungary.

LONDON. July 24.-The Times and
the Daily Mail again to-day ure. tb.
government to declare cotton contra.
oahd and TO undertake the purchase
scheme outlined by the Times yester.
Gay. This plan contemplates purchase
oy the government from the Southern
cotton exchanges OF the amount Of eot.
ton that normally would have xcns Us
Germany and Austria Hungary, and
stoppase of cotton exports to Holland.
Denmark. Norway, Sweden and swttxer.
land. at the same time declaring cotton
absolute contraband.
Tho Daily Graphic also discusses the
action OF the government, on this oues-
ton, and says the matter IA becon,,ne
grave danger. as, unless something
is done before the new cotton crop {.
available. Germany Will be able to GET
all the. cotton she requires.
The Daily Mail, in an editorial. saws.
IL VIII be gross public scandal ie
th's matter Is not dealt with before
parliament rises, to save our soldiers"
me Times. in an editorial dealing
with the position of the United States.
generally refers to President Wilson's
third note to Germany. and declare.
mat 1t seems likely that Wilhelm
strasse Will again take refuge in the
e'aslVe and dilatory tactics hitherto
employed there"
GERMANY IS PREsUMISG
ON AMERICAN PATIENCE
me newspaper adds that there fs a
limit to the successful employment Of
such maneuvers and declares GERMANY
Is presuming on American patience and
pacihsm as she presumed upon British
patience and pacinsm last year.
Ihe editorial protests against WASH
ington's intimation to Great Rrftai,
that American rights will be insistst1
on under principles Of international
law az hitherto established. T,hf.
stand this paper regards as mantfestlv
excessive. and not In accordance with
the example set by the American gov
eminent and American courts during.
the American Civil War. The Times
concludes by expressing hope that
when the British government decides
on this point. the United States will
give Whatever action is taken sympa-
thetic and friendly consideration.
In another article dealing with the
dissatisfaction in Lancashire through
the action of the government In pIan-
ing restrictions on shipment of cotton
yarns to neutral countries, the Time,
says:
Rightly or wrongly, the govern
ment believes cloth suitable for air.
craft has been getting through to Ger
many, and undoubtedly a determined
effort Is being made to stop the entry
or any materials that are likely to
assist the enemy"
WEEKLY NATION REPLIES
TO NEWSPAPER DEMAND
Replying to newspapers and pub
licists who demand that cotton shall
be made absolute contraband, regard
less OF the effect on neutra! nations,
the Weekly Nation says:
Some such similar action united
against us in active warfare or armed
neutrality the whole civilized world a
hundred years ago. even in the end
dragging us into a dreary fight with
the United Sites"
. The Nation points out Great Britain
protested against cotton being do
clared contraband during the Russo.
Japanese War, and that in the Decla-
ration OF London the British represen-
tatives insisted upon having cotton
placed on the free list.
The mere abrogation of this doou-
ment," continues the paper, would not
satisfy neutrals or such interests as
those of the American cotton States
switch wish to know whether Britain's
command OF the seas Is to justify her
In making or unmaking international
law as 1t suits her convenience of the
moment"
The Nation considers. however, that
IL Germany diverted all cotton supplied
for the manufacture of war munitions.
new situation would have arisen, and
the declaration Of cotton rs absolute
contraband could be justified before
the world but evea then the treatment
or cotton destined for neutral states
Wdlld remain to be considered. and
the Nation advises critics to leave the
decision to the Foreign ONCE. which
has all the facts.