New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-26
CARGO QUESTION
TO BE- THRASHED
OUT BY LANSING
Secretary Will Help I'm
porters to Get German
Shipments to u. S.
LFrnm The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, June 25. - Secretary
Lansing will hold conference with a
committee of importers at his office
tomorrow morning, at which steps
will be taken to prevail on Great Brit
ain to allow the shipment Of cargoes
from Germany which were contracted
for but not paid for prior to March 1.
This committee represents importers
who are interested IN approximately
S50,000,000 worth of articles now tied
UP in Germany because of the refusal
of the British government to allow
them TO come through TO the United
States.
1t is understood that one of the
plans which will be discussed is for
the importers to send their bills OF
lading to Great Britain a few days be-
fore the ships carrying their goods
sail from Rotterdam. In this way it is
hoped that the British government can
be convinced of the non-contrabAnd
character of the cargo and that the
period of detention will be only two
or three days.
Will Protest Cargo Detention.
Any action that may be taken at
to-morrow's conference will in no
way affect the purpose of this country
TO send a vigorous note of protest to
Great Britain. While much of the ma
terial of this note has been prepared,
il is not probable that it will be sent
until President Wilson returns from
his vacation.
This note will call the attention of
the British government to what this
country considers a fragrant violation
of international law by Great Britain,
in refusing to allow shipments OF non
contraband articles to and from belllg-
erent countries. 1t will call special
attention to the long range blockade
established by Great Britain, and VIII
point out that, while the United States
recognizes the change which modern
warfare has brought about in condi-
tions on the sea, ii nevertheless can
not submit to any such alleged block
ode as that enunciated in the recent
british Order in Council. The United
States will contend that it has the un-
challenged right to ship non-contra-
band goods TO and from neutral coun-
tries and that this right is upheld by
all the rules of international law.
Will Cite Violations of Law.
1t is not improbable that in the note
this government will enumerate spe-
cifc Instances in which it considers
Great Britain has violated interna-
tional law and will ask for cessation
of these violations in the future
Secretary Lansing said to-day ne
had not dlgested the British memoran-
dunn on the detention OF American ves-
sells and cargoes IL is understood
however, that several statements IN
this memorandum will be challenged
BY this government, especially the
statement relating 10 the number Oh
ships which have been detained IN
England. 1t is believed here that there
are many more ships held up IN BRIT
ish ports .han were enumerated IN 'he
memorandum.
A careful reading OF the British
memorandum by officials Of the State
Department to-day disclosed the fact
that the British government expects a
note of protest from this government
on its Order in Council. II was noted
that the concessions" were made 70
american citizens" and not to the
United States government.