The Washington times., 1915-09-28


PC ssible modification Of the strict letter
Of the allied nations inhibitions against
commerce. consistent with maintaining
the assurance that America will not be
made q supply base for the central en-
pires. 1t has been necessary at times
to take some chances. and commonly
American manufacturers and exporters
have been given the benefit OF reason
able doubts.
Early I'm the war the British authori-
ties issued a fiat prohibition on the cx-
port OF certain kinds Of wool to any
country save British dominions. This
was hard blow to American wool
import immense quantities of wool. and
that from Australia is absolutely nee
essarv for important lines OF manu-
features. This order was made at a
time when things had to be done hur-
riedly. emphatically and without much
reserve IL results were to be had. Mod
if1cstion Of the order has been going on
ever since under administrative con-
troll.
The purpose Of the order was to So
cure such q control Of wool supplies as
would make certain that England and
her allies. especially their armed forces,
during the war. The consumption Of
war Is fearfully wasteful: men In the
field must be well clothed. and they
wear out severa! times as manv clothes
as they would under the conditions Of
peace.
Order Modified.
Just as soon az this order had served
its first purpose Of getting inventory
and survey Of stocks and prospects in
ho Qvit ioh
gan. Wool was released to the utmost
| extent that safety would permit, for
general trade: but always under con-
ditions designed to make certain that
| II would not go to enemies.
/ After a time the embargo on exports
OF wool from British territory was re-
imposed. and Immediately the Textile
| Alliance. an organization OF American
manufa cturers, took the matter up with
the British government and the Ameri-
can State department. As a result. an
arrangement was presently reached,
which is in effect yet. The Textile AL
lance binds itself. in consideration OF
its members being allowed to import
British wool. to have them agree that
It shall not be sold or exported where
it can fall into enemy hands. The ar
rangemeEt Is largely one based on good
faith; but it is backed by the character
and word Of the American industry.
and it's administration has thus far
been very satisfactory TO both sides.
Must Keep Wool From Germany.
The British authorities feared that
II they let their wool come here freely.
there would be temptation to Americans
to export American-raised wool that
might get into Germany and Austria.
Therefore. American Textile Alliance
members are bound to do everything
they can to prevent such exports of
the domestic article. One Of the diff
tnttl 1,nt m httA a.
ness was caused by some large ex-
portations Of American wool to Ger
many. early in the war. This was ad-
iusted and the present arrangement Is
described at both the Department of
Commerce and the British embassy as
working very satisfactorily to all con-
cerned.
Not only have American exports of
wool manufactures increased. but the
British authorities have even permit
ted raw wool to be re-exported from
here in quantities vastly larger than
before the war; ';u,,. THIS so is the IN, more I'm
lean manufacturers have an increased
home demand to be filled before they
can EXPORT Foreign made goods are
for. Yet in the face. Of this fact
American re-exports Of raw wool, in
the first six months Of the present
year. under authorization Of the Brit
ish commercial agencies. amounted ia
7.OOo O00 pounds. against 100000 in the
same period OF the year before the
war.
Exports Increase.
American exports Of wool and wool
products have increased during the
war period, while British exports OF
these have fallen off, according to the
trade statistics of the two countries
On such a showing. it is hard to cal.
culate how the British blockade has
been used to take business away from
American and turn it over to British
manufa cturers.
In dealing with rubber, the American
manufacturers organized a plan very
similar to that in wool. The Rubber
cub of America performs the substan-
, tal functions. as to rubber, that the
rubber, and cotton are of supreme i'm
portanCe to Germany. The British au'
thorities make no attempt to disguise
their determination to keep such es
sentials out of Germany, no matter how
much Inconvenience they may inflict or
other countries Cotton and wool are
reported at very nigh figures in Ger
many: there have been fantastic re-
ports of Germany's willingness to PAY
as high as so cents. or even more, pei
would devise means to get 1t delivered
U. S. Won't Try.
OF course, such proposals really NEAR
that the United States he expected tC
induce England and France to perm
! the cotton to go through their block
! ade and the American Government ha!
! not the remotest idea of trying to do
| such a thing
Cottun's price has been restored to
figure that has aStonished people VIII,