The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1915-06-24

given, which can be easily answered.
One Of these excuses recently en-
bodied in letter from Sir Edward
Grey is that Swedish consignees are
claiming some Of the cotton. The ship.
pers from the United States ask moth
ing better than that cotton should be
turned over to their consignees. Great
Britain does not deliver to Swedish
consisnees, or pay the American ship
pers.
Seized Cotton, But Wouldn't Pay
For II.
had brought to my attention with.
in the past two weeks the case Of a
Southern firm which early in March
shipped several thousand bales Of cot
ton to Rotterdam, Holland. A member
Of the firm came here and presented
his invoices together with proof OF
his contracts of sale to the British en-
bassy, and sought to obtain payment
for the cotton which Great Britain
had seized and sold, but he was able
to obtain no satisfaction.
will not take up more time discuss
ing the mistreatment Great Britain has
given to those cotton shippers whose
cotton has been carried into English
ports. While it is a serious matter
for them to have from $4,000, 900 to S.
100000, which they should have re-
ceived for their cotton, tied up by
the British seizures, the really big
problem is the loss Of our market
caused by the illegal conduct of Great
Britain, and the heplessness Of indi-
viduals to defend themselves.
In Spite Of Promises Seizures
Continue.
The declaration of London made by
the representatives Of the great ma
tions of the world, February, 1909,
contained list Of those things which
under no circumstances in case of war
were to be made contraband, and the
list was headed by raw cotton.
Great Britain has solemnly pledged
to this government by the letter of
October 26th that cotton would not be
SEIZED and that so far as Great Brit
ain was concerned it was on the free
list and would remain there. In spite
of all this, the seizures have been
made and the cotton trade with Ger
many, Austria and all Of northern
Europe destroyed. Other non-contra-
band commodities have been similarly
treated by Great Britain.
There Are Other rights" OF Citizens
That Should Be Stressed Upon
The Importance of preserving our
cotton markets cannot be over-esti-
mated. It is non-contraband and Great
Britain has no right to make it con.
traDand. Great Britain has no right
to blockade neutral ports. We should
insist upon the rights Of citizens Of
the United States to ship cotton to
Holland, Denmark and Sweden. even
though it ultimately may 90 to Ger
many and Austria.
Not one line has gone from our gov.
eminent to Great Britain since the LEFT
ter OF March S0th, which Great Brit.
ain ignored. 1t is but fair to the ad.
mlnlstration to say that | believe the
subject would have been aggressiyely
handled before the middle Of NAV but
for the sinking of the Lusitania.
Should Hold England To Account, No
Matter What Germany Has Done.
We should not submit longer to the
disregard of our rights by Great Brit
ain, no matter what Germany has
done. The people Of the entire coun.
try should understand what has taken
place, and especially those who are
being so grievously wronged should
see the hand that strikes the blow.
But it is said that cotton is used to
make explosives. This is nothing new
It was the case when the Declaration
of London in 1909 declared that raw
cotton could not be put upon the CON
traband list. 1t was the case last
October when we received the solemn
pledge from Great Britain that no
interference should be made with cot
ton shipments. Great Britain cannot
now make new rule that we should
recognize on this subject, and she has
not undertaken even to make cotton
contraband. 1t is being stopped by an
illegal blockade, blockade which dis
regards recognized principles of inter.
national law, and which the Declare
ton Of London Of February, 1909 ex-
pressly declares shall never be made.
Destroying Our Markets, While We
Supply Her With Ammunition.
Our own government has notified
Great Britain that this interference Is
"a distinct invasion Of the sovereign
rights of the nation whose trade and
commerce is interfered with"
Great Britain and the allies are re-
ceiVing half Of their munitions of war
from the United States. They would
destroy the market for the farmers Of
the South, and the market for many
American producers, while they rely
upon the United States to furnish
them their implements of war.
No Occasion For War, But "Firmness"
Is Needed Here, Too.
There is no occasion to involve the
United States in war with Great Brit
ain and the allies, but we should def
nitely notify them that unless our neu-
trail rights are regarded they cannot
continue to receive neutral -nriviIa0ae