The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-09
ON
COTTON SHIPMENTS
Cargoes Consigned to German Ports
Will Not Be Allowed to Proceed,
British Embassy Reports.

British Embassy Reports.
WASHINGTON, March 9-The fol
lowing statement was issued at the
British embassy yesterday on the sub
ject of American cotton cargoes going
to Europe:
MANY inquiries have been received
as to the treatment to be accorded to
cotton shipped to Europe III view of
the restrictive measures proposed to
be taken by the allied governments.
LAS already announced there is no
question OF confscating cotton cargoes
that may come within the scope of the
order-in-council to be issued The fol
lowing arrangement has been come to
in London as to cotton consigned to
neutral ports only:
81. All cotton for which contracts
of sale and freight engagements had
already been made before March > to
be allowed free Cor bought at con
tract price if stOpped) provided ships
sale not later than March 81.
-. Similar treatment to be accord
ed to all cotton insured before March
,, provided it is put on board not later
than March 16.
%. All shipments of cotton claim
4
before sailing and documents produced
to and certificates obtained from con-
sular officers or other authority fixed
| by governments.
| FShips or cargoes consigned to enc
my ports will not be allowed to pro
coed. -
The arrangement is said by the
British ambassador to be framed to
meet a temporary condition arising
| from the fact that Americans had made
contracts some of which were in exc
cution, for the delivery of American
cotton to the neutral countries of
northern Europe which could not be
! fulfilled under an indiscriminate ap-
Iplication of the asserted rights of the
British and French government to cut
off all supplies for their enemy. 70
prevent loss to these interests the Brit
ish and French government have con
scented that they may proceed to full
fill their contracts under the limita-
lions as to dates prescribed in the no
tice given out yesterday.
/ The statement that ships or cargoes
consigned to enemy ports will not be
allowed to proceed was explained to
mean that in the case of cotton ships,
at least where the shipment was made
before March >, or before the an
nouncement of the British intention to
stop all supplies for Germany, the cot
ton cargo will be taken by the British
government at its invoiced value. As
10 the announcement that "there is no
question Of confiscating cotton cargoes
that may come within the scope of the
"orderi to be issued the
British embassy Is not vet informed
when the order-in-eouncil is to be is
sued, but understands that it will coy
er not only cotton cargOes, but all sup
plies destined for either neutral coun
tries of northern Europe or enemy
countries. Consequently the arrange
lment announced Yesterday is to be re-
earded as purely tentative and subject
TO cancellation or amendment as soon
rs that order is ready. 1t is reasona
bly, certain that, regardless of the
treatment to be accorded supplies des
tined for Germany and Austria. direct
Ily OF indirectly. such supplies wher
lnon-contraband will not be prevented
from going forward TO neutral coun
tries, even after the expiration of the
dates mentioned in yesterday az
rangement, providing the neutral coun
} tries have by embargoes or other suita
BE measures, guarded against the re
expectation of these supplies to Ger
many and Austria.
The order-iu-cOuncil. il is understood
J win indicate the conditions under
which not only cotton but all other sup
plies may 90 forward to such countrie
> as Norway and Sweden. Holland an,
Denmark in, the north, and perhaps K
certain specified neutral countries il
. southern Europe with the single rescr
iesrrange-eeewh
walton that Germany and Austria shall
: not profit thereby.
Although dealing only with the sub
. iect of cotton, the arrangement mad
: Yesterday may be regarded as of tn
greatest importance because, while
; heretofore the British and French gov
eruments have contented themselvC
with the assertion that they reserv
= the right to cut off the supplies iron
: Austria and Germany, this is the frs
: actual notice of the purpose to eXel
= else this power. The announcement
. was made after there had been cor
ference at the state department, a
}. which the British ambassador, Senate
!: Smith of Georgia, and representative
= Of southern cotton interests were pres