The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-12
IMPORTS RELEASED
BY PRIVATE AGENTS
Lawyers in London Accomplish
What state Department
Has Failed to Do.
STOP PUT TO PRACTICE

recently been reaching Washington over
the failure OF the British Government
TO release German and Austrian goods
now being held up Mt neutral ports In
Europe for the payment OF which the
American importers are liable.
Not the least Irritating feature OF the
situation to many importers is that law
yers. who va no Official standing. have
been able TO go TO London and obtain
from the British Government more
prompt and satisfactory action In this
matter than has the state Department
itself.
That some of the men, who for sub
stantial legal fees nave thus been press
ing the American cases were formerly
contested will the state Department
and represented II In this very line OF
work, resigniug only Il few months ago.
has added to the dissatisfaction of many
importers.
So serious were the objections raised
ny some OF the Americans that the State
Department finally took steps to head
on further presentation by lawyers Of
cases directly t. the British Government
in London and entered into an agree
ment with the British Foreign Office by
which all OF the claims for goods are
to be taken up with the British Embassy
in Washington through the state De-
partment.
$4,000 600 Contracted For.
All told there were about $40. 600. 900
worth Of goods contract d for by Amer
team importers. which Great Britaia con-
scented to release upon the presentation
or satisfactory evidence that they had
been paid for. or this amount tn re-
lease of about $40. O00, 600 Or SIS. 900. 900
worth was obtained BY lawyers, AT
least one of them d former employee OF
tho State Department. dealing directly
with the British officials In London.
The remaining s25. 900. 900 has bssu
handled through the state Department
In Washington. Just h proportion
of this S25. 600. Goa has been actually re-
leased is uncertain. but II Is known that
only a smell proportion of the total num-
Der of claims pr scented through Wash
'ng:on officials rave as yet been acted
upon by the British Government.
The responsibility for the delay appar-
entity does not rest upon thu state De
Ddrtnent. NlTludlly all Ol lUe REMAINING
claims of American importers, which
numbe about 1900, have been presented
10 the British Embassy. Tbs embassy
also has shown every disposition TO ex-
pedite the cases.
The trouble rests with the Foreign
Office In London. State Department Of
rcials and importers are experiencing
difficulties In presenting evidence in a
form that satisfies the British Govern
,nent Of the American ownership or liza
bility to pay for the goods t. -. II. the
European neutral ports
Efforts are now being made both by
the State Department and by the Brit
fsh Embassy 10 make some arrangement
10y which these cases may be settled in
Washington without reference to the
authorities In London. The British Off
cials practically proposed that they
would accept the o. *. OF the state DE-
partment on these claims, but the Amer
tear officials declined to assume this
responsibility.
They have been Handicapped from the
start by the necessity of acting in this
matter entirely in an unofficial capacity.
FOR to have done otherwise would in
volve possible acquiescence In the legal
'tv OF the British orders In council.
which this Government had condemned
rs Illegal IN It's notes to Great Britain.
Another suggestion that is now being
considered Is for the appointment OF n
commission on which both the United
States and Great Britain shall be repre-
scented and whose findings in regard to
the evidence of ownership and liability
az to goods at neutral ports will be ac-
cepted by Great Britain.
In the meantime, however. American
importers, many of whom are seriously
embarrassed Ia Il business way by the
delay. are finding fault and criticising
VA rticnllr ly the nsfivifN Of fprrnpr am
ployees of the State Department in re-
signing 10 take up the prosecution OF
these cases for tees.
Came After bryan.
w OF the men who resigned from
me foreign trade advisers board in the
State Department to undertake the work
of pushing these claims for importers
were William W. Bride and Robert r.
Rose. Mr.. Rose was appointed one OF
the foreign trade advisers soon after
Mr. Bryan was made Secretary OF State.
Later Mr.. Bride was appointed to a
position In the Trade Advisers office.
Early last summer Mr.. Bride resigned
and went to London. there TO represent
"A number Of American importers who
wished to get goods released. lie sue.
ceeded not only in getting the British
30 grant permits for a number OF con- :
signments valued at about $4,000, 900
but also obtained other important con-
cessions.
A little later in the summer Mr.. Rose,
the senior of the Trade Advisers, also
resigned. Immediately after he an
nounced the organization of the Amer!-
can Trade Retention Bureau, Offering
its services to American business inter-
ests in the securement Of their rights
against violation Of l~nternational law
by belligereuts.
II Is a fact tina State Department
officials have been concerned at REPORTS
coming from unofficial quarters indicat-
ing that persons engaged In the prosecu- |
ton OF these cases had been representing
10 clients, actual or prospective, that
they were In position to obtain favors
at the state Department. II should be
stated emphat.cally. however. that the
Department holds its former employees
entirely OlameleSs III this matter.
Neither Mr.. Rose nor Mr.. Bride is
accused Of having made such representa-
Ions. A case did arise, however. where
AN agent OF BERNARD, Judae & Co. Of New
York city u Chicago, forwarding
agents and customs brokers. who got
Mr.. Bride To proceed to London to see
y the situation could he relieved, sent
out a business circular representing thut
Mr., Bride had the backing of the State
Department and would nave the aid Of
Ambassador Page at london.
Circular Is Regulated.
As soon az Mr.. Bride heard of this
pudlatcd it both publicly and in n com
Naflllt. 'lpn "a rhA State Nam. t,,,.