Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-21
GREAT BRITAIN
DENIES CHARGE
OF COPPER USERS
Vigorous Measures to Prevent
Shipments of Metal to En-
envy BeIIigerents Are TO Be
Taken.


London, Feb. 6.--Admiralty Off
Gals are taking vigorous steps 10
prevent shipments of copper from
neutral countries into Germany, but
there are still grave suspicious that
Germany is getting copper in consid-
cradle quantity from neighbofing
countries.
The foreign office has emphatically
denied the charges OF American cop
per producers that English dealers in
| copper have formed a combination
| through which they are able to con-
| troll American copper destined for Eu-
| rope which American firms formerly
sold direct TO dealers 1t has been
| charged by American concerns that
| English dealers are able to get a
/ commission from handling copper
I which now must be re-exported from
the United Kingdom under a special
license. While figures are not avail
able officials say hardly any copper
/ mas been exported from Great Britain
since the opening of the war
Italy's Copper Imports.
In normal times Italy imports about
| $500 tons of unwrought copper per
month. AT the opening of the war
the shipments destined for Italy in
one single month aggregated 10000
tons Much of this copper, nearly all
OF which was from America, was de-
tanned at Gibraltar. That was pre-
vious to the British announcement
December that Italy had frightened
its regulations concerning the re-ex-
portation of copper, making it pos
sible for shipments to firms not of
German affiliation TO go forward
Great Britain has been storing cop
per in many Of its leading seaports,
Some Of this copper has gone through
the prize courts and some of II which
was not consigned 10 firms under sus-
picion on the continent has been
bought by the government at the
market price. Complaints have been
received from some American ship
pers that copper Communicated by
the British government has not Yet
been paid for.
DenmarIs's Strict Embargo.
Although Denmark has strictly for
hidden the expectation OF copper to
belligefents 1t is reported that con-
siderable quantities Of the much
needed metal have made their way
through Danish firms into Germany
within the last three months, and the
British government is much concern
ed about the leaking.
AT the opening of the war British
officials believed Holland was also
sending copper to Germany but re-
Gently the Dutch regulations have
been changed and the Netherlands
has gained such control over its mer-
chants that any shipments of copper
now reaching Germany across the |
Dutch border are believed by British I
officials to be inconsequential.
Norway has steadily maintained /
that it was privileged to shin what |
copper 1t produces wherever Il
chooses. Previous to the war Norwe- |
gian copper mines produced only
about BOO tons annually but since the |
war their output has been greatly in
creased. This crude copper is sent
to Sweden to be refined and repeated
charges have been made by British
OFFICIALS that it is not all shipped
back into Norway.
Metal works in Sweden are said by
British officials to be using Norwegian.
copper as well as copper imported
from elsewhere. in making an ALLOW
of metal suitable for cartridge shells
which is not on the list OF prohibited /
exports.
This is said to be sent into Ger
many N large quantities and has been
the subject of many Investigations on
the part of Great Britain.
One result of the controversy con-
corning copper has been the offer of
many owners of copper mines in Nor
way TO sell their properties to the
British government.
Spain produces considerable copper
but the chief mines there are owned
by British capital and their output
has been carefully guarded to prevent
it going to nations at war with Great
Britain.