Evening star., 1915-05-21

arrived at in collaboration with rep
resentatives of the American cotton in
terests. The terms of the arrangement
are as follows:
"A. All cotton for which contracts
of sale and freight engagements al
ready have been made before March .
is to be allowed free transit, or bought
at the contract price if stopped; pro-
vided the ship sails not later than the
31st of March.
b Similar treatment is to be ac-
corded all cotton insured before the I'd
of March, provided it is put aboard not
later than the 10Th of March.
&C. All shipments of cotton claiming
the above protection are to be declared
before sailing, and documents produced
and certificates obtained from consular
officers or other authorities fixed by
the government.
Says Fairness Is Conceded.
Fourth. In accepting this scheme.
which, it may be noted, applies to ship
ments of cotton for neutral destina-
ton only. the principal representative
of the American cotton interests de-
scribed it to his majesty's ambassador
at Washington as conceding all that
the American interests could properly
ask II was never suggested that yes
sells or cargoes with an enemy destina-
ton should be allowed to proceed. HIS
ma jesty's government were, moreover,
given to understand that the provisions
of the arrangements were acceptable TO
the United States government.
Fifth 1t is intended shortly to fur
nish statement showing precisely
what cargoes. or portions of cargoes.
his maiestys government have dealt
with under the above arrangement. and
as regards those which they have de-
cided to purchase at the contract price
under the terms of paragraph "A OF the
ARRANGEMENT Direct discussions nave
already been opened with the special
renresentatives of the American parties
interested in London.
Cotton Already Sold.
sixth. A considerable portion of
cotton has already been sold. and ar
rangements are being made for hand
ing over the proceeds to the parties
entitled to receive the total value, as
first installment of the completed trans
action. II is obvious that all these ar
rangements require some time Tor ad,
iustment. Mean~hile it is not believed
that the original owners can. as ap-
nears to be apprehended, be suffering
acutely by the delay of full payment.
1t is to be presumed that in accordance
with the customs of trade the owners
drew bills to the value of their goods
before or at the time of shipment. and
if such bills have been negotiated in
the usual way it is difficult to under
stand why the drawers should De put
TO inconvenience on this account al
least before the date when the bills
fall due.
seventh. on an impartial review of
the facts it will, his maJesty's govern
ment feel sure, be admitted that no ar
bitrary interference with American in
terests has, in regard to these carSoes,
occurred. seeing that his majesty
government has acted throughout IN
conformity with the terms OF an ar
ranSement agreeable to the interests
concerned, and that United States cit
izens will suffer no pecuniary loss.
Other American Cargoes.
Eighth. AS regards other American
cargoes. or portions of cargoes, which
have been placed in the prize court. his
maiestv's government resort to this
measure in cases where either the goods
concerned are contraband or there is
evidence that, although ostensibly
consigned to a person in neutral coun-
tries, they are in reality destlned 10
the enemy in contravention of the rules
of blockade The right to submit such
cases to the public investigation of
judicial tribunal is one which his ma,
iestv's government cannot forego. and
they feel convinced that the enlight-
ened opinion in the United States can
not adversely criticise their course of
action in this respect.
Ninth 1t is true that number OF
these cases have been pending in the
prize court for some time This Is
notably the case in regard to certain
vessels carrying large shipments of
meat and lard ostensibly consigned to
Scandinavian ports. The United States
government are, however, no DOUBT
aware that much of the delay involved
in these instances is due to the fact that
the negotiations have been carried on
for many weeks with representative