Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-14
STATEMENT PREsACEs
C0NTRABAND COTTON
Lord Robert Cecil Says Such Step
Would BE Legal and Inter-
nationally Justified.
COUNTRY CLAMoRING FOR IT
England Wants to DO What Is Right
by NeutralS, but Is Determined
ThEt Cotton Shall Not Find Its
Way to Germany.

LONDON August 13.-Lord Robert
Cecil parliamentary Under Secretary
'or Foreign Affairs. in the course of II
formal interview to-day defining the
hritiSh governments attitude in the
complicated cotton situation, made this
statements:
The allies must by all lawful means
prevent cotton reaching their enemies:
1t may be considered necessary to make
cotton contraband.''
He rcfraincd from any hint that tho
commodity would he removed from the
free list at amy specific date or tha,
the government had evolved any solu-
tion to meet the demands of American
cotton growers and neutral consumers
lie stated explicitly. however, that If
cotton were made cOntr:,band England
would consider the act legal and inter-
nationally justified.
STATEMENT RELIEVED
TO PRESAGE STEP soon
His statement. the first in behalf of
the government outside Parliament
relative to cotton. and coming at
time when the public is clamorinc for
drastic action TO shut off the sup,l,.
from Germany, is taken in some quar-
ters to prcsagc this step soon. I'm his
statement. which announces that il dc
scribes the governments position on
cotton. so far as il is at the moment
possible TO define it," Lord Cecil saws:
The british government. acting in
conjunction with it's allies, is giving the
cotton situation it's continuous and
most earnest consideration The gov
ernment is fully aware of the import-
ance OF cotton to America We fully
understand that upon satisfactory
adjustment the tnr a.
considerale degree the welfare Of
nearly quarter Of the population or
the United states. The welfare of tho
whole population of Great Britain
however also is involved. as we'll as
! that of all great Britain's allies. fo,.
whom the British government Is acting
III these and other matters concerning.
contra band and trade.
Inc fundamentals of the situation,
arc nuite clear. The allies must by all
! lawful means prevent cotton reachin,,
their enemies. That is Il vital military
, necessity which all the world will
recognize.
CONSIDERATION MUST
Bi; GIVEN PRODUCERS
NJ the same time an equally inn
portaht consideration must he given 10
ia great cotton producing country like
like Sweden Norway, Denmark mn,
. Holland y policy must be devised
which will respect the Legitimate riyhts
of neutrals and yet s;tieA u..ru the Icriti
mate interests of the allies and inn,ct
as much damage as possible upon our
enemies
cotton has not yet been declared
cohtraband. but under our blockade MI
cotton which is believed to he destined
Tor Germany is stopped II NAV he
considered necessary to make cot,or
contraband. There is Il demand I'm tha
allied countries that this should ~,
done There is assuredly ample justi
hcation for the action if il is deemed
necessary.
ihcr" may he substitute for cop
FER IN making munitions OF war For
cotton there is no known substitute
Making cotton contraband would h,.
q distinctly legal action, and can lac in
ternationally justified beyond protest.
80 FAR as American cotton is concerned
however the problem of marketing cot
ton on this side would undergo little
change American cotton destined for
Germany is now stopped II the lro
duct were made contraband, il would
ID" stopped in the same manner The
principal difficulty would he that If
cotton were contraband. shipments
from America which were suspected of
being for G"ImanN would be seized and
would he liable 10 contiscation by prize
court procedure if proof were obtain
able or German destination, whereas.
now the cotton is seized, hut not noces-
sarily conf iscatcd."
iNTERESTED ONLY
IN DErRIVING GERMANY
We are interested only in Keeping
cotton out OF Germany. We not ONLY
uontinued on Second PageD
N.& w. MOUNTAIN EXCURSION