The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-04
COMMERCE
PROBLEM
An Inquiry of England as
to Contraband
Policy
ITALY'S NEED OF
AMERICAN COPPER
Release of Detained Steam
ers-The Case of the
Brindilla

Washington. Jan Awhile no word
came from Ambassador Page Saturday
as to the character of the reply which
Great Britain will make to the American
note of protest concerning interference
with American trade, there were several
developments in the general shipping sit
uation. The United States asked Great
Britain for information as to how the
| latter's statement made early IN NO
yember, that naval stores. including ros-
in, camphor and turpentine, would be re-
garded as non-contraband, will be recon
ciled in actual practice with the notifica
| ton from the British foreign office OF a
week ago saying these products now are
absolute contraband. Information is
sought as to how cargoes now en- route
are to be affected and whether resinous
products are included in the classified
ton.
The Italian ambassador informed the
state department that while statistics
would make it appear that extraordinary
amounts of copper shipped from the
United States to Italy might be for IN
neutral purposes, the fact OF the matter
was that as Germany needed her own
copper. Italy could no longer import
from the countries Immediately to the
north of her, but must seek the metal in
the American markets.
Much qualification was manifested at
the state department because of the re-
lease by Great Britain of the oil tank
steamers Tidis and Narragansett and
the freighter George r. Hawley, which
had been held at Falmouth since Nov. 80.
The case of the Brindula, originally
detained at Halifax and rearrested on
her return journey from Egypt and TAX
en- to French port, i looked upon as
likely to produce complications. Should
the question of change of registry be
raised. precedent may be set for while
Great Britain has recognized the trans
fer when of bona fide nature. the at
titude of France has never been explic-
itly declared The communication which
the state department sent concerning ma
val stores is said to be the first protest
on specific articles listed by Great Brit
ain as absolute contraband. In the
American note of protest it was stated
that while the United States objected to
some OF the classifications made, the dis
eussion of them would be reserved until
another time.
The protest concerning naval stores
was communicated Saturday TO the gov
ernors and senators of several southern
states. Rosn and turpentine had been
intended for ballast with cotton cargoes, |
and the British government is on record /
az stating that cargoes so made up
would not be regarded as contraband /
The state department had no sooner sent /
to this effect TO shippers |
than the British foreign Office published /
its new list Although this phase OF the /
situation was not specifically mentioned /
in the recent American note. il was gen
orally understood 10 have been a con-
tributory reason for the dispatch Of the
document.
Secretary Redheld Issues Warning.
To prevent the recurrence Of charges
that American shippers conceal copper
and contraband articles in cotton and
other non -contraband cargoes, the fol
lowing formal notice, supplementary to
President Wilson's warning of last week,
was ISSUED Saturday by Secretary Red
field Of the department Of commerce
"The attention of shippers OF goods TO
neutral countries is called TO the inn
portauce Of having manifests complete
and accurate. II is essential also 20
iyoid mixing contraband goods in car
yoes otherwise not c0ntraband. II il az
eged that some American maHifests
have omitted etrtain coutraband goods,
also that efforts have been made 20 con-
cal contra band articles or 10 alter their
appearance - that they viii h. allowed
10 pass A single case Of the kind i
,nough 70 embarsss ~ American com
nerce 20 neutral countries by throwing
doubt on the correctness 81 our mani
.ests and on the neutral nature 81 our
,argoes thus possibly involving DELAY
through examining Carroes that other
: ice would BE- avoided