Evening star., 1915-01-08
SEE bETTERMENT
OF i. S. COMMERCE
Action of Great Britain, Italy
and Netherlands PIeases
Officials Here.
AMERICAN SHIPMENTS
WILL BE facilitated
Some of Governments Complaints
to England Are Remedied by
Late Developments.

To GuKlAuU AlC xkCLnCuASN ~
Late Developments.
| Hone was EXPRESSED in admlniStra-
| ton circles. here today that American
| commerce with Scandinavian countries
| and other neutral nations would be I'M
| proved as the result OF steps taken by
Great Britain, Italy and the Neither
lands whereby commerce to the latter
countries from the United States
would undergo but little Interference
in the future.
The action Of the three countries
remedies some of the complaints made
by this government in its recent note
to Great Britain, the basis of which
was the holding up of ships on the high
seas with cargoes from the United
States destined for European nations.
! Statements given out last night by
both the British embassy and the state
| Department were the first inkling of
another step forward by Great Britain
in efforts to solve the controversy @
! try and the United States regarding
| the seizures of American shipments.
The statements set forth that SO far as
| Italy and Holland are concerned Great
danger of getting contraband articles
through those two countries to Ger
| many and Austria has been practically
removed.
Shipments May Proceed.
1t was pointed out that should ef-
fectiye measures be agreed upon be-
tween the allies and the other neutrals
of Europe shipments from this country
thar 3Dfn
ence and the delays to which they have
been subjected in the past.
Coincidentally with the announce
ment of the steps taken by Great Brit
ain, Italy and the Netherlands, the
State Department received a cable
from American Minister Van Dyke at
The Hague. to the effect that the Brit
ish, French and Russian ministers had
given formal assurances that merchan-
disc even of a contraband nature, when
consigned to the recently established
Netherlands monopoly, would not be
molested on the high seas.
Secretary Bryan received a personal
note from Sir Cecil Spring-Ri the
British ambassador. stating that mas
much as the expectation of rosin and
turpentine, known as naval stores"
would probably be prohibited by Italy
and Holland, arrangements would soon
be completed whereby these products
could be shipped without difficulty to
those countries from the United states.
Defends Ship Detention.
Great Britain defends it's detention
of American ships in a statement is
sued last night by the British embassy
here. It claims that out of 773 vessels
proceeding from the United States since
the beginning of the war, but eight
have been put into prize courts. and
one of these has been released, leaving
but seven detained for decision by the
prize courts.
Just before this statement was issued
the State Department received word
that the Mallory line steamship Den
yer, of American registry. which. with
a cargo of cotton, had been taken into
Kirkwall, Scotland, had been released
by the British.
The British embassy statement does
not take up the case of detentions of
American cargoes in detail. but merely
endeavors to show that American ship
pers have not sustained actually many
losses from confiscation of cargoes or
prize court proceedings.
Ambassadors Statement.
The British ambassador Issued the
following statement:
"Shipments for Italy in Italian steam
ers Of goods placed on the embargo list
of the Italian government and con-
signed to named persons are free.
Articles for Holland (apart from
copper, petroleum and grain, except
rice and corn), which must be con-
signed to the Netherlands government,
should be consigned to the Netherlands
Overseas Trust in order to insure non
interference
out of 773 vessels that have pro-
ceeded from the United States to Scan
dinavian countries, Holland and Italy
since the beginning Of the war only
eight have been put into the prize
courts and one of these has been re-
leased, leaving only seven detained
for decision of the prize court. By far
the greater number of those detained
for examination have been already re-
leased.
Purchase of Cargoes.
With regard to purchases of car
goes the British government has pur-
chased many cargoes of copper and has
not yet condemned or confiscated any
neutral cargo or consignment, al
| though some are awaiting adjudica-
tion."
| In connection with this statement
| officials pointed out that while only
! eight ships have been put into prize
courts, scores of others had been held
| up for varying periods of time before
| being released. 1t was not only these
delays, but the consequent moral ef-
| feet on shippers who hesitated to subject
! perisha bic goods to extensive eXan1inati j IN
in British ports which brought forth the
American note. The fact that only
eight cases actually were taken into
the prize courts has convinced many
| officials that the bulk of American
| commerce was of a legitimate charac-
ter, and that most Of the detentions of
| American ships were without real
! cause.
| Position of Netherlands.
The text OF cablegram received by
the Netherlands minister from his gov
ernment was summarized in the follow
ing statement by the State Depart
| ment:
| The BRUSH and French ministers,
| pVh hn Nv