Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-20
BRITISH RESTRICTIONS
DO NOT HURT j. S. TRADE
Further Arguments and Statistics
Submitted to State Department
by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice.
AMERICA PROFITS nY WAR
Statements That English Merchants
Gain in Commerce With Neutral
Countries at Expense of Americans
Founded Upon Misapprelicnsion.


port of Great Britain's denial of state
ments that her merchants are profit :
Ing by British war restrictions upon
commerce at the expense of American
| trade have been submitted to the state
Department by the British embassy in
Il memorandum. which was made pub
,, lie day with 4; letter of transuittal
| to Secretary Lansing from Sir Cecil
SPRING Rice. the ambassador.
! The memorandum. which Is supple
mcntary to a note on the same subject
handed Ambassador Page last summer
by the London Foreign Office. re-
iterates the assertion that increases in
! British trade with neutral countries
have been inhnitesimal compared with
the growth of similar American trade.
1T draws particular attention TO figures
showing that the increase in exports
| from the port OF New York to the Scan
dinavian countries during the first thir-
teen months OF the war exactly balance
the falling off of New York's exports
10 Germany.
y report of the Secretary of the
Treasury is quoted TO prove that the
war has improved rather than injured
American commerce.
The ambassadors letter follows:
Dear Mr.. Observation-Disclosures
nave been widely circulated in this
country to the effect that the trade of
the United States has greatly suffered
owing to the restrictive measures
taken by the allies against German
commerce, and more especially that
British merchants and shippers are
profitinE greatly by the war measures
OF the British government to the dctri-
mcnt of American trade
AS these statements seem to he
largely based upon a report cmanating
from an officer of your department who
had not had access 20 the official statis-
tics of the United states government
| think it may be useful in the interest
OF a fair and just pprcciation of the
facts (Which am sure is your object
II incloSc u memora uduin on the sub
lect OF these assertions which is sup
Elementary TO that already cornmuni-
Gated TO YOU by my government
1T Is not to be expected that the
United states should be wholly un-
touched by such a world calamity as
the present war, and In the case of the
American Civil War II will be in your
recollection that the Immediate effect
on France and England was an lln-
suited in untold suffering 10 the work
ing classes OF those countries. hun
dreds Of thousands being rendered alb
Solutely destitute. II is satisfactory to
note from the recently published re-
port of the Secretary OF the Treasury
that, wholly apart from war orders. the
industrial situation In this country is
OH q firm. steady and healthy basis
With regard 10 The specific accuse
ton against my government that. while
American trade with neutral countries
has been diminished. British merchants
have prohtcd by the war measures to
Increase their export trade, ! beg to
recommend 10 your notice the figures
given in the accompanying report.
based on the official returns OF Amcri-
can trade published by your govern
ment. You will see that. while British
trade. which has suffered greatly in it's
general volume, has increased TO u
slight extent in certain branches.
American trade has Increased to "a
lastly greater extent.
1T may be opposite to point out
that british trade does not compete
with American trade in The neutral
countries OF Europe, as the products
OF America sent 10 thoS. countries
are of e wholly different nature from
those exported from Great Britain
In some cases, which are explained
IN detail in the mcmoranduu, there
has been AN increase Of the exports
from England. bun the amount invoIv-
cd has been iniiutesimal as compared
with tho volume oi American trade in
the same articles, ana the increase Of
the exports from England Is explained
by accidental causes, which Involved
no loss to the american exporter. /
need only mention the case OF cotton.
The export from England Of American
cotton increased during the first seven
months Of the year by lli.000 bales
largely owing to cotton which was
purchased by the Rritish government
IN consequence Of MISREPRESENTATION as
To the ownership and release to the
swedish consicnces. In tho same
months the total exports from Amer
ict increased 10y 100000 bales
II must that it will not he found
amiss that as: your consideration
OF tho incloscd memorandum, which
is n"i communicated in Il controvcr-
sial .D.rlt, but merely in order to cor
rect au impression which appears to
hay" arisen from an imperfect apprc-
citation OF tho facts.
II need only add. In conclusion, that
# there comes 10 the knowledge of
your department any specific instance
in which the British government has
made nSc Of their restrictive trade
measures FOR the purpose of unfairly
discriminating between British and
American trade, YOU will bring the
facts 10 tn" knowledge of my gov
crnm"n' in order that they may cause
an inquiry ana remedy such injustice.
II ann, dear Mr.. Secretary,
Yours sincerely,
CECIL SPRING RICE
IN" memorandum in part follows;
Ehc attention Of His Britannia Ma
JcStyS embassy has been drawn To -
report by the United States consul
| general. IN London. on the subject of
iritish trade in July. which was pub
, iishcd IN commerce report No. 203, OF
Angus, 30, and The substance of which
was "i'"Iy reproduced in the press
IN IA" course of this report Mr..
skinner states az follows:
/ II continues 10 be the case that
many classes Of goods. the expectation
| OF whiCn from he Ivnitro Sta,os m