South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-22
COTTON CARGOES
WILL BE SUBJECT
OF NEXT j. s. NOTE
Great Britain viii Be Request
ed to Mend Her WayS-WiII
Insist That Shipments Be
Allowed to Proceed.

WASHINGTON. June 22.-The new
note 10 Great Britain regarding the
rights OF American commerce Will lay
particular stress on her treatment OF
American cotton cargoes, and an ur-
gent demand will be made for inn
provement in this direction. The
realization that the situation calls for
immediate action is expected TO
hasten the preparation and dispatch
Of the note
The administration has been in
formed that IL is imperative that a
market be found for the great new
cotton crop which viii begin 60 move
within six weeks. The state depart
nent has been giving the subject a
great deal OF attention during the
past two weeks and as result. Great
Britain Will be informed that she viii
be held responsible for a situation
which may mean ruin for thousands
OF cotton growers and cause tremend-
uous financial loss 10 nearly One-half
OF the United States.
The attention Of Great Britain will
be called to the fact that her action
in maintaining an illegal blockade Of
neutral countries as we'll as the eneTly
countries, closes the market for
American cotton. England herself is
no longer a market because by her
seizure OF American cargOes bound
for neutral ports. she is now over
stocked with cotton.
No Place to sell It.
The United States, therefore. will
find herself IN a few weeks with one
Of the largest cotton crops in her his
tory and no place on earth to sell IL,
unless Great Britain is forced to mod
ify her practice.
IN normal times practically two
thirds OF the cotton crop of the
United States is exported. At the
present time. some OF il is going to
Europe. The state department has
been informed that there is no posi-
BILE chance for the local market alb
sorbing the two-thirds Of the new
crop which ordinarily would so
abroad
The situation has been made more
acute by the development of a case
which the state department regards
as the most fragrant Of all Great
Britain's violations OF international
law in her treatment of American
commerce. IL was learned Monday
that representations have been made
already to Great Britain in the mat
ter. and the case will probably be
cited in the general note now being
prepared.
The case In question grows out of
the seizure by Great Britain on June
OF the steamship Llellanaw. carrying
5000 bales Of cotton, worth approx
mately 100000 from New York 10
Gothenburg. Sweden for trans-ship-
ment 10 Russia. The cotton had been
sold by the Harris Irby Cotton co.
OF New York 10 a Russian firm. Be
fore leaving New York the ships
papers were visited by the English
and Russian consuls.
Refuses Consent.
The cotton seized by Great Britain
on the grounds that it would be di-
verted e GOthenburg and sent into
Germany. When this point was
raise. the New York firm agreed to
send the ship 10 a Norwegian port
instead. and there trans-shipped to
Russia. but Great Britain would not
consent
The elements in this case which
make IL a most conspicuous illustra-
tior Of Great Britain's attitude to-
wards American commerce and there
fore has caused 10 TO be regarded at
the state department as extremely
serious. are these:
Cotton is not contraband. and
Great Britain has no legal right to
seize IL.
Pit was consigned to a firm IN
Russia. a country which is an ally of
Great Britain in the war.
Sit was bound for a neutral port
which Great Britain has no legal
right TO blockade.
Approved by ConsuIs.
At was inspected. passed and ap-
proved by the Consuls of Russia and
Great Britain in New York.
Ofcials Of the state department
believe if Great Britain is disposed
TO permit cotton cargoes at all 10 get
20 other neutral countries she would
let the cargo Of the Llellanaw go
through. particularly after the ship
per had indicated his willingness 20
change its route. and her failure Go do
so indicates cOnclusively her purpose
TO stop the shipments by any means
at her command.
The belief that the state depart
ment will make a vigorous demand
for better treatment for American
commerce at the hands OF Great
Britain became known today. when 1t
was learned that the state department
has been made acquainted with the
impatience felt BY American shippers
because OF its failure to obtain relief
for them.
Traders Name Agent.
development in this connection
was the announcement that 1000
firms who do considerable business
abroad had decided on the appoint
ment o. w W. Bride. heretofore at
tached 90 the Office OF the foreign
trade Offices of the state department
as residential representative OF their
Interests in London
The purpose OF Mir. Bernard's visit
20 Washington was 20 get relief from
the British order for forbidding the
shipments OF goods out OF Germany
and Austria after June is. Mr.. Ber-
nard firm represents the 1000 ship
pers and he made strong representa-
tons 90 the state department regard
ing the loss and inconvenience to
American i0uscs II Great Britain was
permitted to pat her order into effect.
Mr. Bride viii go Ca London at
once and enceavor TO get some relief
from the British government at once.
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