Evening star., 1915-01-04
BRITISH EMBASSY
. CLEARS ONE POINT
Statement on Shipping Says
England Will Pay for Ger
tain Goods Seized.

| tain Goods Seized.
The British embassy last night ISSUED
| Its first statement on the shipping sit
uation since the publication of the
American note. 1t cleared up one poin,
on which the United States has asked
for information by announcing that
turpentine and rosin shipped from this
country before those articles were de-
clared contraband would be paid fol
when seized. The statement said:
'Turpentine and rosin shipped before
the publication of the order placing
them on the contraband list will be
paid for.
"All copper shipped before the date OF
the declaration that copper was con-
traband has been paid for or released
mo cargoes for Italy have been held
up at Gibraltar since December l.
Italian ships carrying cargoes of com
prohibited are not interfered with un-
less there Is clear evidence of fraudu-
lent intentions on the part Of shippers.
Negotiations are proceeding in Lon
don with a view to the removal of the
embargo on rubber against pledge
not to export, similar to that arranged
with regard to German aniline dyes.
The negotiations have been retarded by
the discovery of shipments of rubber
from the United States to Europe un-
der disguise"
Decisions Expected This Week.
Officials Of the Washington govern
ment expect the present week to clear
the air of much of the uncertainty
prevalent over the seizure Of American
cargoes and ships by the allies. De-
cisions of scores Of special cases prob
ably will be expedited. The dispatch
Of the note covering the general situa-
tion has for the moment side-tracked
some Of the Individual cases.
While interest in the diplomatic con-
troversy opened by the sending of the
and diplomatic Washington, a feeling
Of confidence prevails on all sides that
an amicable adjustment will be reached.
President Wilson and his advisers are
confident that Great Britain will recog-
niZe that the position of the. United
States as set forth in its note does not
differ from that which Great Britain
herself has repeatedly maintained In
previous wars in which England was
a neutral. Although the American note
itself cited Lord Salisbury's doctrine
contending that foodstuffs are contra
band only when proved to be destined
to an enemy force, State Department
officials say, moreover, the volumes OF
international law and archives of dip1o-
matte correspondence concerning con-
traband and the rights of neutrals in
time of war are filled with cases and
principles thoroughly justffying the
American contentious.
They point out, for example, that a
much more drastically phrased series
of notes was sent by England to Rus
rr,lA fkA lot OF w
Japan in 1904. Not only did England
declare that foodstuffs must be shown
to be for the use of an army or navy,
but specific protest was entered
against the doctrine that 1t is for the
belligerents to decide that certain arti-
ter of course, to be dealt with as con-
traband of war, regardless of the well
established rights Of neutrals."
Strong Note to Russia.
In another Communication between
England and Russia during the same
war, the former declared that unless
some steps are taken by the Russian
government to restrain their naval au-
thorities from the indiscriminate
molestation of neutral traders, the
amount of compensation for which the
Russian government will find itself
liable may assume enormous proper
tions. 1t is necessary that they should
realize that 1t is rapidly assuming
shape in which it will be impossible
for the government of this country to
rest content with the prospect of OBJ.
tanning pecuniary compensation for
the sufferers. The situation which has
arisen has, indeed, become one Of the
utmost gravity"
The fact that almost the identical
arguments used in the American note
were vigorously proclaimed by Great
Britain not only during the Russo
Japanese war, but during previous
conflicts In which the neutral COM
merce of England was injured through
the interference Of belligerent fleets,
has strengthened the belief among ad-
in conformity with previous practice
will be forthcoming from the British
government.
Reports Of the finding of rubber man
ifested as gum" in the cargo of the
steamship Sendford, are understood to
have virtually halted the negotiations
in progress in London with the object
of obtaining modification of the en-
barge against the expectation OF rub
sci carried a cargo from the United
States to neutral ports.
The British government has taken the
position that the rubber probably was
destined for Germany. and the reported
false manifesting Is said to have
shaken confidence In the effectiveness
Of proposed assurances by American
merchants that no rubber will be per-
mitted to fall into German hands If
Great Britain allowed the product to
come into the United States.