New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-21
Embassy Attaches Say I'M
ports to u. S. Have Not
Been Restricted.
SPINNER CHARGES
ILLEGAL METHODS
u. S. Consul General Declares
England Is Protecting Own
- Trade at Others Expense.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


to-day that anything Of an irregular
nature was thought to be attached 10
its activities in relation to the importa-
ton Of raw wool and rubber into this
country from British possessions. An
official declared that no attempt had
been made to conceal the matters pub
lshed this morning. and that there had
never been the slightest hint of impro-
priety in the efforts of the embassy a
assist American importers in securing
their normal quota of these materials.
Sir Richard Crawford. commercial
attache of the embassy, declared that
his reading of the attack on the Brit
ish policy offered no suggestion for
comment, further than to say that
there was an evident misunderstanding
Of the British embargo rules.
The British government has declared
an embargo on the expectation OF
hundreds Of articles. including raw
wool and raw rubber. but has consent
ed 70 relax the rule wherever 1t is pos
.ible to do so without nullifying the
purpose of the order. In the case OF
the United States, representations
were made to Great Britain by manu-
facturers that rigid enforcement q
the order would work hardship TO
American industries, and, in accord
ance with proposals made by the
TEXTILE Alliance, the British govern
ment agreed TO permit the expectation
of wool to the United States If guar
anees were given that 1t would not De
re-exported.
Says L. S. Trade Is Unrestricted.
"The United States has never been
a wool exporting country SAID an Of
fcial of the embassy. I'm the last NJ
teen wears il is doubtful if an average
of three hundred thousand pounds an
nually has been shipped from Amerl-
can ports. But imports here have been
large. and have come chiefly from Brit
isb possessions. Thus a rigidiy main
tanned embargo would cripple Amerl-
can industries without benehtng Great
Britain. and the British government,
therefore, agreed TO permit wool to De
exnorted to the United States for home
consumption. Instead of restricting
American trade, Great Britain mas, SO
far as wool is concerned, made excep-
tions to its rules to avoid unnecessary
injuries to American interests:
The same situation exists, u Is oe
clared, in the matter OF rubber. WINE
II is true that the United states mas
been a large exporter OF manuIactureu
rubber, the fact that an emeargo mas
been placed on the raw product by
Crea+ britain indicates that American
industries are being favored by the
permission to import sufhclent quahVi-
ties for dom este purposes.
The embargo on these goods extenos
10 shipments to all countries except
( Great Britain and her colonies. In
practice. however, shipments are per-
mitted to the allies of Great Britain,
who have the first preference, and VIVA!
oversupply may be left is prorateo
among neutral nations not contiguous
to Germany and her allies.
America Has All Wool She Needs.
In the case of wool, it is argued that
if the United States has enough 10 eH,
port it is an indication that more wooi
Is being imported than is needed, since
vol is not one of the normal exports
of this country. If, therefore, large
exports of wool are made from the
United States, even though 1t may De
of domestic origin, it must be inferred
that the imports of wool are IN excess
of the actual needs of the country,
A report from Consul General SKIN
nor. in London, however, IN which ne
arrives at the conclusion that meas
ures designed to protect the military
situation are being utilize to protect
British foreign trade at the expense OF
other countries" has been received
here. IL
Consul General Skinner draws his
conclusions from the official British
trade returns, after an examination OF
the export figures for the six months
ended with June, 1914, as compared
with the same figures for the preced-
ing year. Commenting on the Stats
tics, Mr.. Skinner says:
at will be perceived that, while the
articles under report cannot be shipped
from the United States to neutral Eu-
ropean countries without being stopped
and rendered liable TO condemnation,
these same articles are being exported
from Great Britain itself in enormous
" increasing quantities. Especial at
tention is directed to the items OF cop
per, cotton goods, raw cotton, petrol
cum and wool.
British Wool Rule vexstious.
"Perhaps in no commodity Of trade
has the British rule been more vexa-
tious than in that of wool. Exports OF
raw wool to the United States have
been refused usually, except in cases
when il could be shown that manu-.
featured woollen goods for the armed
forces would be returned in exchange
and in equivalent quantities. But while
raw wool was being refused on the
ground of military necessity, Grea'
Britain found il entirely possible tc
export TO the United States well over
half her usual quantity OF manufact
ured woollens and more ian the usuaI
quantity OF carpets.
THE British explanation OF these
singular facts is that the exports are
IT. some degree controlled BY the vari
ous committees which authorize th'
Granting OF licenses 70 export. and tina
cnlv importers of known standing arr
favored, who can be counted upon no
10 sell to enemy countries. The en
nIanation would have some force il thu
quantities exported were normal. bu
inasmuch as they are wholly abnorma
and as the ease with which the export
from Great Britain sre made Is mat
ter OF common knowledge II IS QUIT
evident that measures designed to pro
tect the military situation are bein.
utilized to protect and extend britisi
foreign trade at the expense Of othe
! countries"
, PACKERS TO SEE OFFICIALS
: Expected to Ask Government To-day u