The Washington times., 1915-09-06
Embassy win Issue Statement
EngaInd Is Aiding Self at
Expense Of United States.
SAY SKINNER INACCURATE"
Assertion Made That Dealings
With NeutraIs by London Is
on Increase During War.

The British embassy intimated today
that a statement would be Forthcoming
later. explaining or repudiating the
message Of Consul General Skinner to
the State Department. In which Skinner
declared Great Britain was increasing
its trade to neutra!s while harassins
and interfering with American COM
merce to these same neutrals
. Embassy officials. however. con-
demned skinner's report as "inaccur-
ate." and apparently refuted part Of
the consul's claim-that Swedish. Nor
wegan. Danish. and Dutch imports
from the United States were declining
with reports from the American De-
partment Of Commerce.
Skinner's message. according to au-
thcntic authority, set forth that these
American goods to aid the Teutons.
despite the British statement to the
contrary. Embassy officials today pro-
duced export figures Of the Department
lands imports from the United States
In the f1scal year ended June. 1915, had
increased S31 Co0. 600. although the June
figures showed a 81, ,ooo. 100 decline.
American exports to Sweden last
June increased approximately $1,000
00n over June. 1914. while the In
crease for the fiscal year showed an
increase OF from sl4.oOo.oo0 in 1914
to s7s.ooo.ooO in 1918.
Norwegian Import.
The Norwegian import increase
from the United states was given as
I.1o7,316, against S46s.6l5 for the
same month in 1914 The increase
sS5iHS ssn HnS5 t6s .hs past fiscal year was nearly
skinners statement set forth that
Dutch custom "HT i,Eures sho@ed h%so.sn; conl smo
trary opinion. but having refuted.
apparently one portion Of Skinner's
report, the embassy was not inclined
to credit the rest Of it without ade-
They admitted their inability to
point out errors in the British Gus.
tom figures submitted by Skinner.
Which appeared to show substantial
20 European neutrals and they also
admitted their inabality to advance
any explanation for the apparent in
SINNERS report however. was read
with the deepest interest at the British
embassy here and officials conceded
that the statement. apparently based on
reIanle and authentic custom returns.
IN this country against Britain.
Officials Absent.
The closing OF all Government de-
partments today made 1t practically i'm
possible to locate officials who were IA
miliar with trade conditions here and
abroad. Trade Adviser Fleming, Of the
state Department. was not at his resi-
dehce, and other officials could not be
seen. but 1t was generally believed here
that Ambassador Page at London
would be requested to ask the British
foreign office. informally, for an ex-
plantation OF the figures submitted by
Skinner.
Officially. however. the State Depart
ment was not expected to take particu-
lar coYnizance of the apparent increase
In British commerce with neutrals. ex-
cept to probably incorporate it in the
next American note to England. in con-
nection with the order-in- council and
the general British blockade policy. It
was expected to make a strong areu-
ment against the blockade policy. and
might, 1t was thought. influence this
Government to frame its next nete in
stronger terms than were originally
contaminated