New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-09
Notice to Washington
Taken to Set Date for
Blockade of Germany.
NOTHING ALLOWED
FOR ENEMY PORTS
Arrangement for Neutral Coun-
tries Only Until Order in
Council Is Issued.
Prom TIE Tribune Bureau ]

Washington, March S.-The British
announcement through Ambassador
Spring Rice to-day announced to The
State Department temporary ar
rangement by which shippers of cottor
might proceed to fulfil their contract!
for Europe, and thus gave the first in
timltion of the manner in which Ger
many and Austria will be blockaded.
Hitherto both Great Britain anC
France have contented themselves will
the assertion that they reserved thu
right to cut off al supplies from thei
enemy countries. To-day's communica
ton to this government is taken a
actual notice =: The purpose 10 exercise
that power on March 81. although tn
communication deals only with tn
subject OF Gotten.
The notice antedateJ in publication
the order in council upon which it i
based. When the order issues the EN-
barge on the transportation OF GOOD
destined for Germany will go into ful
effect. The inhibition on cotton Will &C
company all the other inhibitions. bu
for the present and until March 81 IN
special ruling is operative.
Text of British Notice.
The following is the text of tn
statement delivered to the State De
partment:
Many inquiries have been re-
ceived as to the treatment TO be
accorded TO cotton shipped to Eu-
rome. in view Of tie restrictive
measures proposed to be taken by
the allied governments.
AS already announced. there IS
no question of confiscatlng cotton
cargoes that may come within the
scope of the order in council TO be
issued. The following arrangement
has been come to in London as to
cotton consigned to neutral ports
only:
/. All cotton for which contracts
Of sale and freight engagements
had already been made before
March . to be allowed free cor
bought at contract price II
stopped, provided ships sail not
later than March 81.
.. Similar treatment TO be ac-
corded to all cotton insured before
=, "
not later than March 16.
3. All shipments of cotton claim
ing above protection to be declared
before sailing, and documents pro
duced to and certificates obtained
from consular officers or other au-
thority fixed by governments.
Ships or cargoes consigned TO en-
envy ports will not be allowed to
, proceed.
|. The arrangement is SAID by the Brit
} ish Ambassador to have been framed t
, meet a temporary condition arising
from the fact that Americans had mad
contracts. some of which were in ex
, ecution, for the delivery of American
cotton to the neutral countries o
, Northern Europe, which could not b.
fulfilled under an indiscriminate ap
A.. plication of the asserted rights of tn
' British and French governments to Gu
= off ali supplies for their enemy. T.
? prevent loss TO these interests, h
added, the British and French govern
a ments had consented that they Nigh
Y proceed to fulfil their contracts unde
] the limitations as to dates prescribe
t in the notice given out to-day.
Cotton at InvOiced Value.
n
. consigned to enemy ports will not b
allowed to proceed" was explained t
mean that in the case of cotton ships
at least where the shipment was mad
before March 2, or before the an
nouncement Of the British intention I
stop all supplies for Germany, the cot
ton cargo would be taken by the Brit
ish government at its invoiced value.
Ia. m n =
= is no question OF confscating cotto
I cargoes that may come within The scop
= of the order in council to be issued,
' the British Embassy is not yet in
| formed when the order in council is {
4 be issued. but understands that II Wi
n cover not only cotton cargoes, but al
t supplies destined for ether neutra
countries Of Northern Europe or enem
n countries. Consequently, the arrange
o ment announced to-day is to be re
G garded as, purely tentative and subjec
to cancellation or amendment as 500
as that order is ready.
1t Is reasonably certain that, regard
less Of the treatment to be accorde
supplies destined for Germany an
Austria, directly or indirectly, sue
supplies when non-contraband will nc
be prevented from going forward
I neutral countries, even after the eN
/ piration of the dates mentioned in to
days arrangement, provided the net
. trail countries have by embargoes O
1 other suitable measures guarde
J against the re-exportation of thes
, supplies to Germany and Austria.
| Enemies Must Not Profit.
The order in council, it is under
stood, will indicate the conditions vi
der which not only cotton, but all othe
supplies, may go forwa. d to such cour
tries as Denmark, Sweden. Norway an
Holland in the north. and perhaps I
certain specified neutral countries i
Southern Europe, with the single res
ervation that Germany and Austri
shall not profit thereby.
The announcement was made afte
there had been a conference at tn
State Department, at which the BIRTHS
Ambassador, Senator Smith. of GeOrgi;
and representatives of Southern cotto
interests were present.
Try Cable TO The Tribune
2 London, March 8.-Proof of the elias