Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-04
UNCLE SAM ASKS
FOR INFORMATION
America Wants to Know English
Nations Stand Upon Naval
Stores.
PLEASED BY SHIPS RELEASE
Communication said 60 ne First
Protest ON Specific Articles
Listed as AbsoIute Con-
traband.

WASHINGTON, Jan. awhile no word
came from Ambassador Page today as
70 tho 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.
uatlon.
The United States asked Great Britain
for information as to how the latter's
statement early In November that naval
stores. including rosln, camphor and tur-
pentine. would be regarded as non-con-
traband, will be reconciled in actual prac.
tice with the notification from the Bri.
tish foreign office Of a week ago, saying
these products now are absolute contra.
band. Information - sought as 10 how
carsoes now enroute are to be affected
and whether resinous products are in
oiuded In the classification.
Must Seek it Here.
The Italian ambassador informed the
State department that while statistios
would make It appear that extraordinary
amounts Of copper shipped from the
United states 10 Italy might be for un-
neutral purposes. the fact OF the matter
was that. as Germany needed its own
from the countries Immediately 20 the
north OF II. 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 Tifiis and Naragansette ana The
freighter George r. Hawiey, which had
been held az Falmouth since November
30 Tho case OF tho BrindllIa, originally
detained at Halifax and rearrested on
It's return journey from Egypt and taken
TO French port. Is looked upon as likely
to produce complications.
Precedent May Ne set.
Should tho question OF change OF regis
try be raised a precedent may be set.
for while Great Britain has recoEnixed
the transfers when OF a bona fide na-
turo. the attitude OF France has never
been explicitly declared.
The communication which the state
department sent concerning the naval
stores is said to be the first protest on
specific articles listed by Great Britain
as absolute eontraband. In the American
note OF protest II was stated that, while
the United States objected to some OF tho
classifications made. tho discussion OF
them would be reserved until another
time.
Naval stores Protest.
The protest concerning naval stores wa.
communicated today 10 the governors ana
senators OF several southern states. Rosin
and turpentlne had been Intended for bal.
last with cotton eargoes and the British
government Ia on record ms stating that
eargoes so made up would not be regarded
as contraband. The State department had
no sooner sent notification 10 this effect
70 shippers than the British foreign Of
flee published It's new list.
Although this phase OF the situation
was not specifically mentioned in the
recent American note, Il was generally
understood to have been contributory for
the dispatch OF the document.
RedfieId's WarniuR.
To prevent the recurrence OF charges
that American shippers conceal copper
ana eontFaoand articles In cotton and
other noneontraband cargoes. the follow
ing formal notice. supplementary to
PRESIDENT Wilson's warning OF last week,
was issued today by Secretary Redfield
OF the Department OF Commerce:
ns,,,s nss attention Of shippers Of goods to
portanee OF having manifests eompiete
and accurate, II is essential also 10 avoid
othsrSs, lslns eontIahsnd goods in cargoes
tnet some American manifests have
omitted certain oontrahaaa goods; also
@snat @ etIorts have been made 10 conceal
eon.rAoand articles, or 60 alter their ap-
peeisnee SO that they will be allowed
single case OF the kind Is enough 10
snloaIfhss All American commerce 10 neu.
trai countries by throwing dorht M, ~.
correctness OF our manifests and on the
neutral nature OF our carEoes. thus pos-
a ssoa hsolNlng delay through examining
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