New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-03
new BRITISH RULE
MAYCAUSE TROUBLE
American Vessels Now on
High Seas Laden with
Contraband.
CARGOES NOT BARRED
WHEN SHIPS SAILED
Italian Ambassador Explains
Large Shipments of Cop
per TO His Country.

Washington. Jan. While no word
came from Ambassador Page to-day as
TO the character Of the reply which
Great Britain viii make TO the Ameri-
can note Of protest concerning inter-
ference with American trade, there
were .everal Developments IN the gen
eral shipping situation. "a,
Tho United States asked Great Brit
ain for information az TO how the lat
tcr's statement, made early in Novem-
her. that naval stores. including rosin'
camphor and turpentine. would be re-
garded rs -contraband will be rec
onciled ir actual practice with the no
tifcation from the British Foreign "
fee Of week ago, saying these proc
ucts now are absolute contraband. IN
formation is sought as TO how cargoes
now en- route are TO be affected ana
whether TesinOus products are lhcIud-
ed I'm he classification.
The Italian Ambassador informed tne
state Department that. while StatiSl'c
would make d appear that eNtraoFdl
nary amounts OF copper shipped from
the United States to Italy might be
for unneutral purposes. the fact OF inc
matter was that. as Germany needed
her own copper. Italy could no longer
import from the countries 10 the norm
Of her. but must seek the metal IN the
American markets.
Much qualification was manifest az
the State Department because OF the
release by Great Britain OF the Amer
lean oil tank steamers Tifis and Mar
ragansett and the frelghter George L.
Hawley which had been held at raj
mouth since November 30. Inc case
OF the Brindilla, originally detained
~ Halifax and rearrested on her re-
turn tourney from Egypt and taken to
o French port, Is looked upon as line
Is TO produce complications.
Should the question Of change OF
registry be raised, a precedent may be
sci. for while Great Britain has recog-
rized the transfers when OF bona tide
nature. the attitude Of France has never
been explicitly declared.
The communication which the state
Department sent concerning naval
stores g. said to be the first protest on
specifc articles listed by Great Britain
As absolute contraband. In the Amerl-
can note Of protest it was stated thas
while the United States objected to
some Of the classiiications made the
discussion Of them would be reserved
until another time.
The protest concerning naval stores
was communicated TO the Governors
and Senators OF several Southern states
: to-day. Rosin and turpentne had been
intended for ballast with cotton car
goes. and the British government Is on
record as stating that cargoes so MADE
up would not be regarded as contra
band. The State Department had no
sooner sent notification 70 this effect
20 shippers than the British Foreign
Office published its new list.
Although this phase of the situation
was not specifically mentioned IN me
recent American note, il was general
Il understood to have been a contrbu-
tarv reason for the dispatch OF the
document.
To prevent the recurrence Of charges
that American shippers conceal copper
and contraband articles in cotton and
other non-contraband cargoes the fol-
loving formal notice, supplementary to
President Wilson's warning OF last
week. was issued to-day by Secretary
Redfeld. Of the Department Of Com
merce:
I THE attention OF shippers Of good
10 neutral countries is called 10 the
importance Of having manifests com
plete and accurate II is essential also
10 avoid mixing contraband goods IN
cargocs otherwise not contraband. u
f. alleged that some American mani
tests have omitted certain contraband
Goods. also that efforts have been made
10 conceal contraband articles or 70
alter their appearance so that they viii
be allowed TO pass.
- eincIo case Of the kind is enough
20 embarrass all American commerce
10 neutral countries by throwing doubt
ON the correctness of our manifests
and on the neutral nature Of our car
goes. thus possibly involving delay
through examining cargocs that other
wise would be avoided