New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-17
BRITAIN WARNED,
U.S.. RESTSONLY
ON WORLD
Cannot Submit to Orders
in Council in Prize
Court Cases.
WILL PROTEST ANY
DENIAL OF JUSTICE
Note Soon To Be Sent Will
Object to Further Inter-
ference with Cotton.

Washington, July L. Formal notice
that the United States holds that the
rights of Americans who have cases
before British prize courts rest on
international law, and not on various
British orders-in mcconnell or municipal
law, is given in a statement cabled to
Ambassador Page and presented by
by him TO the London Foreign Office
to-day.
Secretary Lansing explained that
this communication was not to be con-
fused with the general note in prep
aration relating to contraband and in
reference with American commerce
on the high seas. He said it was more
in the nature of legal "caveat," gen
orally conserving the rights of citizens
of the United States whose cases are
about to be tried by English prize
courts.
As the prize courts have not yet
ruled on any American cases and are
believed to be about to do so, the
statement from the United States sig
nifies, in effect, that if there is a
denial Of justice, diplomatic protests
will be entered, based on the general
principles of international law exist
ing before the outbreak of the war.
The United States has in its formal
notes given Great Britain s well as
Germany general notice to this effect
and the statement now sent draws par
ticular attention to the prize court
cases pending. 1t will be made public
here tomorrow,
Resents Cotton Hold-Up.
As a result of the detention OF TWEEN
weight cotton ships in the last two
weeks and of many protests filed
against the treatment OF cotton
cargoes by Great Britain, the Amer
lean note which will be sent to the
British government soon will carry
vigorous protest against interference
with cotton cargoes consigned TO neu-
tral countries.
Cotton shippers declare tnat little OF
the large shipments g cotton con-
signed to neutral ports since the dec,
laration of the German war zone and
the British blockade has reached It's
destination. Most shipments have been
held up by Great Britain, and IN some
cases purchased by that country.
Great Britain, il is understood. has
agreed not 20 interfere with cargoes OF
cotton consigned TO the Netherlands
Oversee Trust for consumption In Swe-
den and Holland, but only under con-
dition that neither of these countries
shall import a quantity in excess OF
that consumed by them in the CORE
spending period before the war.
A cable message received from the
American Minister. dated The Hague,
July 7, relating to the shipment of cot
ton to the Netherlands, reads:
"The Netherlands Oversee Trust VIII
in general issue licenses to import cot
ton upon receipt of application, &C
companied by a bank guarantee that
the cotton will be spun in Holland, and
the licensee may then notify the hol-
fundamental Line 70 accept the CON
Segment. The Oversee Trust, how
ever, reserves the right to refuse
licenses TO applicants who are con-
sidered to be accumulating too much
stock. or who for other reasons may
lack the confidence of that organiza-
ton"
The British Embassy began to-day
making payments in Washington for
detained American cotton cargoes, the
identity of ownership of which has
been satisfactorily established. The
first payment partial one, at the rate
of 10 cents a pound-was about $780,
600. II was for the cargo Of the Greek
steamer Spyros Vallianos, from ST.
vannah, which was taken to Falmouth
and Cardiff. The cargo was owned by
Inman, Akers d Inman.