Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-12
IMPORTERS URGE WILSON
TO STRENUOUS ACTION
They Ask That He Relieve Them OF
Shipping Hardships Imposed
by England.
HoKE SMITH is SPOKESMAN
Blockade, as Now Being Carried Out,
Is Declared to Be Most Flagrant
and IneNcusable Violation Of
Neutral Rights.

NEW YORK. August 11.-Aftor
Smith, of Georgia. moro than 300 New
York importers to-day adopted a petit
tion urging President Wilson to take
prompt and strenuous action to relieve
American importers of the embarrass-
ment of Great Britain's refusal to al
low German and Austrian products to
be shipped from neutral ports to tho
United States. Senator Smith declared
that tho blockade. rs carried out by
Great Britain. was one Of the most
fragrant and ineXcusable violations OF
neutral rights in naval history.
II have determined the only thing
10 do, said Senator Smith, "Is 10 tell
Great Britain to revoke the blockade
order. or she can have no neutral trade
with us. The excuse that Great Brit
ain seized cnrgoes of goods produced
In Germany or Austria. or Of goods in
tended for Germany or Austria, but
taliatory measure against Germany,
does not make the seizure lawful
There is no Justification for the
second contention that the British
were justified In their action because
the United States had violated Great
britalns rights during the Civil War
The United States never committed an
act, nor did our courts ever write a
line, that justified the British action"
ASSERTED INDI4>S RIGHT TO
SHIP COTTON TO JAPAN
Senator Smith declared that during
the Russo japanese War Great Britain
asserted the rights of India to ship
cotton to Japan. lie also pointc' out
that the British first placed cotton on
the list Of articles not to be classed as
contraband. AS contention that rul-
inGs by the United States Supreme
Court did not justify Great Brituin's
action. Senator Smith discussed the
bermuda and Pcterhof. or Matamoros
cases. which arose during the Civil
war. In the latter case he noted the
ruling OF the court which held that.
although the p-terhnf sailed from
England For Matnmoros. Mexico. with
contrahand. conditional contrnband and
noncontraband goods. all intended for
shipment TO Texas during the war.
only the actual contraband could be
seized. as a blockade could not extend
TO n neutral port.
senator Smith said he had been sur
prlSed TO find that the people of the
chi'e" S'ateS maze so little of Great
hritains attack on our commerce." and
added that the neutral countries had
Great Britain at their mercy. He said:
we can demand this: Rccognize our
rights. or what Will You eat" The
administrations point OF view is all
right, but il has acted slowly"
Great Britain herself, Senator Smith
asserted, was shipping cotton into Ger
many, by of I0llnpd At,antio,>
also was called To statement which
Senator Smith said was made recently
IN Parliament, that Great Britain was
exporting to Holland nineteen times
the usual amount Of goods
committee representing various
importers associations was appointed
TO draw up petition. to be voted on
later. asking President Wilson to call
special session OF Congress to dis
cuss ways and means Of relieving the
importers.