Evening journal., 1915-09-16
TRADE HIT
BY ENGLISH ORDER
Great Britain ModifieS Sea
Embargo for Benefit of
Home Importers
WILSON PREPARES
TO FILE PROTEST
RY CHARLEs P. srEWARr.

United Press STAFF Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Sept. 16.-The An
glo-American was temporarily more
urgent today than the German-Amer-
lean situation.
The sharpest note the administra-
ton has yet addressed to London was
predicted in well-informed quarters
should a pending investigation Wy
Consul-General skinner prove the
truth of American importers charges
that English private interests are OBJ
tanning notifications OF the order In
council which have been denied TO
Americans.
AS long ago as September 6, AM
bassador Page notified the State De-
partment that he had been advised
by the British Foreign Office that "in
few DAYS" arrangements would be
made to permit shipment, through
neutral ports. of German and Aus
trian goods contracted for by Ameri-
cans before the order In council went
into effect
Great numbers OF American inn
porters promptly wrote or telegraph
ed to the British embassy here for
fuller information An investigation
Of Anglo American trade relations
since then reveals the following
facts:
1. The British embassy told the
American importers 10 Ale their con-
tracts for German and Austrian goods
with the American trade advisors TO
be forwarded after certihcation, to
the embassy
2. The embassy has never indicated
10 the trade advisors, in tangible form.
| It's willingness TO receive such proofs.
8. Applications. representing mill
lions of dollars. have piled up at the
I trade advisors Office. which cannot
/ file them with the embassy until the
latter indicates its willingness to
| handle them
On the highest authority, II was
| learned today, that the irate Ameri-
can importers pressure on the adj
ministration Is becoming almost un-
bearable. II learned also. indirectly,
/ but automatically, that the greater
urgency Of the German-American sub
marine warfare issue is all that has
prevented the sharpest representa-
tions by President Wilson TO the Lon
don foreign office.
The state Department, as is known
already has represented to Great Bri
tain that the United States considers
the order in council illegal. The
American trade advisors have sought
Informally. but officially. to have tn
measure modified. The British for
eign Offices statement Of September
also informal. but official. to the ef
feet that goods contracted for befor
the order in council was ISSUED
might PASS. was in fact, the result o
these efforts.
But the British governments ex
pressed willingness to modify tn
blockade. American officials said, ap
narentlv was a mere expression, whicl
represented no real willingness what
ever
So far as can be discovered, It wa
stated on authority actual physica
stems to make the British govern
ment's word Overwhelmingly an or
der to the British embassy 10 negotiau
land forward proofs to London-neve
have been taken.
Even since september % ~ was 9o'
Sir Richard Crawford, British commel
cial attachc here. has signihed that !
would file with the American trade &C
visors statement which would PERM
them to submit 20 the embassy the vast
volume Of data in their possession, Deal
inc on American purchases m German
and Austria before the order in counc
stopped shipments.
But no such statement has been ille'
Wednesday, orders were sent to Cor
sui General Skinner to investigate IN
accusations Of special privileges to Brit
ishers.
If they prove true. high officials sal
that not even startling developments
the submarine controversy can longf
delav an American demand on Grea
Britain for an explanation.