Evening star., 1915-06-27
Appeal for Right to Obtain
Goods From Europe Meets
With Sympathy.
SECRETARY LANSING
REASSURES MERCHANTS
Committees Attorney Outlines Re.
suit of Conference and
Hopes for Results.

Following a conference between a
Committee uf American importers and
Secretary OF State Lansing. solicitor
johnson and Robert Rose of the board
Of foreign trade advisers, a statement
was issued hy the attorney for the i'm
IoTters. in which II Nds stated that
secretary Lansing lad given them Tea :
son 10 expect fa.orahle action on the
part OF the foreign nations in response
10 state department representations.
The committee represented more than
one thousand American importers. who
prcss Utcd i petition declaring that
American business Ind suffered notice
ably because Of Eugland's refusal to
modify The embargo on imports from
Germany. especially on non contra ba nd
goods shipped through neutral coun-
tries
The statement said Secretary Lansing
had expressed a determination on the
part Of President Wilson and himself
10 10 II in their power to aid.
Outline of Results.
MIR. kohns. acting as chairman =
said the statement, outlined the
commercial conditions that prevail
throughout the country and asked that
the President and Secretary of State
would secure to the importers their
constitutional and international rights,
under which they demand the undis-
puted right to import into the United
States non -contraband merchandise.
from neutral ports. irrespective of its
origin and without restriction of any
kind,
The Secretary of State asked many
questions evIncIng d study and thor
oush knowledge of the conditions tha I
have seriously interfered with the bust
ness of American merchants by rea-
son IF the unwarranted delay of the
shipment in overseas transportations
OF American -owned merchandise.
The Secretary expressed a determi-
nation on the part of both the Presi-
dent and himself to do all in their
power to aid the importers of our
country in securing the rights to
which they are entitled under the laws
OF nations and by treaty obligations; !;
and expressed his full sympathy with
the importers in their present unfor-
tunate state. and, without committing
himself, gave the committee TO under
stand that il might expect some
bile action on the part of foreign
nations in response TO the State De-
partments representations.
To Communicate With President.
The effect of yesterdays conference
will net be apparent for several days.
Secretary Lansing took the facts pre-
sented BY the importers under consid-
Grafton and Will communicate with
President Wilson.
1t has already been announced that
the State Department for many weeks
has been preparing further representa-
tions TO Great Britain asking for a
modification of the so-calIed blockade
Ine President, however, has been un-
willing TO compIicate the situation
While the delicate negotiations with
Germany Were in progress.
There has been an inSistence in many
quarters that note should be sent
to Great Britain simultaneously with
the German negotiations 10 emphasize
the intention of the United States to
defend neutral rights whether violated
by the allies or Germany. Mr.. Wilson
has told friends that he has been on
both sides of the question of sending
note to Great Britain at this time
but il is known he finally resolved
70 wait for the German answer to the
last note concerning submarine war
fare. He did not WISH il is under
stood. to give the appearance abroad
that the United States would bargain
by negotiation with England on the
blockade question for concessions br
Germany demanded as n result of the
sinking Of the Lusitania. Reparation
for the loss of more than 100 American n