The Washington times., 1915-03-17
Protests Against British Edict
Flood congressman and
Reach White House.
WILSON AND BRYAN CONFER
War to Starve Out Germany Will
Not Be Halted, According to
Authorities.

Protests against the new British order
in council and the expected hardships
It will visit on American trade are be-
ginning to flood members of Congress-
to fll the press, and to reach the Ad-
ninistration.
That the new blockade Of Germany.
which is known as modified block
ade," will cause strong resentment
among shippers and business men in
this country is becoming more than ever
apparent. Meantime. the President and
State Department are studying the ne"
order and cegitating on it's effects.
President Wilson and Secretary OF
state Bryan had q long conference at
the White House this afternoon the
conference lasted an hour.
The new British order-in-council, the
effects Of it on American commerce,
and the nature of the action to be TAX
en- by this Government are understood
to have been discussed. President Will
son is taking the closest personal in.
tcrest in the remarkable international
situation.
Policy Will Remain.
Vigorous protest by this Government
is certain. Other neutrals, either singly
or by joint action, will protest But
the situation today is not different from
what it was yesterday in this respect.
A. l.. ult t0h hsac CT Ind q
that Great Britain and her allies VIII
retreat from the position they have
taken
This position was taken after careful
elaboration. The war TO starve out
Germany having been entered on, 1t will
not be halted, according to the belief
Of the best informed men here.
The figures In the hands Of Secre
tary Redfeld show that large par
Of the export business Of the
country in recent weeks has been cot
ton shipments. This cotton busines.
will be hit. Great Britain will take
cotton cargoes. but 1t is not expected
she will pay more than the marke
price, instead OF the contract price.
Estimates are the new British ordel
will cause this country loss of $4,000
day in customs and loss to Ger
many OF s1OO00.O 900 a month in export!
to this country alone. Treasury offi
cials ara worried over the enectsl o.
the revenue, already curtailed by th'
war.
Senator Walsh of Montana called OF
the President last night and talked
over the situation. On leaving th'
President. Senator Walsh said an un
usually strong protest should be mad
nd Ines not aYnaCt
extra session, but he spoke OF the gen
eral regret that Congress had not be
fore adjournment clothed the Presi
dent with power to lay embargoes OF
exports to the bell!gerents.
Way To Concessions.
CONGRESSMAN Towner of Iowa today
said there was one practicable way fol
| the United states to force concessions
in respect to treatment of neutral com
| merce.
I'VE could declare an embargo OF
war munitions and be on strong ano
defehsible grounds" said Judge Turner
| The statement of Lord Kitchener Al
to need Of war munitions Is the best evil
dence Of how important such supple!
| are to England The President shoult
have power to declare such an eInbar
go, and If he had 1t would be in po
stion to back up the protests of thi
Government against interference VIII
| neutral commerce
Made Public Today.
The British order will be made publ
today by the state Department. an
the full text of the notes to and fror
Great Britain and Germany in whic
the United States tried to bring abou
aba ndonment Of German submarin
warfare and to get food in to Ger
man civilians.
| In the protest of the United States t
Great Britain it will be tlsly state
that this Government does not recog
nIze the right of any belligerent powe
to establish a blockade against com
merce on the high seas. While II will b
admitted that development Of subms
rine and aerial navigation to it's pres
ent point has brought with it modifl
cations of methods of warfare. It wi
be insisted that a definite coast lin
must be included and provisions mad
for establishment of what will be !
fact, an actual blockade. in order I
check an enemy's commerce. And thj
Is the great glaring omission from tn
British plan. the United States Will cor
tend,