The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-02
RetaliatOry Plan Would Bar Cotton Shipments and Other Merchandise
 to Germany
ACTION REGARDED
 AS UNPRECEDENTED
 AND A NOVEL STEP
Reprisal Plan Is Not In Answer to United States Re- cent Note Seeking
 Adjustment

Washington, March I.-An commcr- many and the outside world was de- clared prohibited today by Great Brit ain and France. Identical notes pre- scnted by the French and British ann
 bassadors informed the United states of this drastic step by the allies in reply to Germany's war zone procIa-
 nation. The text of the notes was the same the statements made by Pre-
 mier Asquith in the British ParIin- ment.
 If this policy is enforced it no longer will be possible to ship cotton, manufac- tured articles and commodities hitherto of noncontraband character from the United States to Germany, directly or in directly, and from Germany the supply of dyestuffs and other merchandise for l consumption in this country will be cut off.
 The impression was general in official quarters tonight that a strong protest would be made. The action of the allies was regarded as an unprecedented and novel step. Officials pointed out that there
 was a singular forgetfulness of the fact
 that whatever might be the violations of 1 international customs as between these countries at war, this could not affect the status of international rules as be- tween the United States and countries with which she was at peace. Not Reply to Note Assurances given by Great Britain that l today's note was not reply the recent proposals of the United States for an 1 adjustment of the entire situation which led to the retaliatory measures, gave sreanc for lopes elsat tb 10 rssir4a
 taken might be only temporary. In this l connection the state department issued the following statement:
 "The British ambassador has presented the following instructions from his gov | ernment:
 "'When presenting the joint Anglo French communication you should inform 1 the United States government that the communication received from them 1 through the United States ambassador in London respecting possible limitation | of use of submarines and mines and an arrangement for supplying food to Ger many is being taken into careful consid- eration with their allies"
 1 Copies of the notes were immediately sent by Secretary Bryan to President Wilson. State department officials ad- mitted that one of the most complex lproblems of the war had arisen. Of- ficials were unanimous in their opinion that the notification could not be called A .blockade" although it virtually had the effect of the same. It was noted generally that the communication did not use the word blockade, and al the l French and British embassies here there
 was an avoidance of the same word. The notes leave much. therefore, to be ex- plained.
 l It was regarded as virtually certain that the United States would reply promptly with an inquiry as to how the | step was to be carried into practice, together with protest against the an !nouncement that commerce between l Germany and neutral countries here after would be interrupted by the al- lies.
 May Buy Cargoes
 Officials and diplomats were curious on reading the text to know what would be the disposition of cargoes hitherto not listed as contraband, such as cot ton, which if destined to Germany the Iallied fleets propose to take into Brit
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