New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-11
IMPORTERS PROTEST
WAR BAN ON PORTS
British Tie Up 100000, coo
Worth of Goods in
Neutral Waters.

A conference of representatives OF
almost every large importing firm IN
New York met yesterday at the Hotel
Vanderbilt to formulate some plan for
the immediate relief of importing con-
ditions from neutral ports adjacent to
Germany and Austria. Goods with a
/ foreign value of more than s30,000000
have piled up there because OF the
British commerce restrictions. All the
merchandise is of a non-contraband
character.
| The goods belong to the importers
/ by contract obligations placed before
March /, 1915. Furthermore, American
customers have legal claims for deliv-
cry by virtue of purchase contracts
made by them in advance. 1t is point
ed out, too, that the United States is
/ being deprived of sl2,000,000 in duties
order in council.
made necessary by the fact that the
greater part OF the merchandise held
ub comes in the class Of seasonable
| goods required for the fall and holiday
3 trade, which is seriously threatened.
( This vast amount of goods will have
to be paid for by the American i'm
rorters, they assert, since the mer-
chandise was contracted for long before
| tie English order was announced. Inc
German and Austrian manufacturers,
having produced the goods, are not re-
stonsible for the non-delivery. and the
! American importers in many instances
have sold the goods, which now they
/ find cannot be delivered.
Included in the merchandise held up
at neutral ports are large quantities
of TOYS, novelties, laces, embroideries:
/ orockery, glassware, gloves, linens and
miscellaneous drygoods. In taking up
/ the matter the importers said they
we're not prompted By desire to help
/ foreign manufacturers, but to insist
upon the rights of the American mer-
chant
They decided TO select a group OF
! the more prominent representatives
of the trades involved TO take up with
! the officials at Washington the ne
cessity Of coming to an immediate un-
derstanding with England and France
whether or rot they shall be allowed
to ship merchandise covering orders
placed before March I, 1915, regardless
Of whether payment before that date
was made or not.
The untiring efforts of the foreign
E trade dONlScIs VIM dNitu
on behalf of the importers were fully
appreciated, they said during the dis
cussion, but it was regretted that a
| concession could not be secured form
the English government
The meeting went on record that II
the importers have a right under a con
cession granted by foreign govern
rent from an order, which never has
been officially recognized by the Ameri-
Ger government, to obtain goods which
have been paid for prior to March J.
1915. the right to obtain goods which
sir ce have been placed at their disposi-
ton and which goods were ordered be-
fore March is equally clear.
A draft Of communication was pre-
pared 10 he used in taking the i'm
porters' complaints TO President Will
SON and Cabinet members. While rec
orrizing the enormous responsibilities
and duties which the President has to
perform at this time. the importers
declare that only the urgency OF COM
mercial conditions impells them to ask
his attention. So.
The letter will request the President
TO aid in this matter to the end tnat
some official action be taken at an
carly date ito secure the freedom from
I interference in their unduestionaole
right 70 transport merchandise OF nom
contraband character from Germany
I and Austria"