The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-06
ENGLAND AND CONTRkDAHO.
UNCLE SAM ASKS AROUT NAVAL
STORES.
FIRST Protest on Specific Articles List
cd Us Absolute Contra raband.--A
lean Vessel Originally Detained at
Halifax Has Been Rcarrcstcd.

Washington, Jan. 2.-Whilo no
word came from Ambassador Page to-
day as to the character of the reply
Great Britain will make to the Amer
lean protest against interference with
American trade, there were several
developments in the general shipping
situation.
The United States asked Great Brit
ain for information as to how the
British statement in November that
naval stores would be regarded as
non-contra band would be reconciled
in actual practice with the British
notification Of week ago that these
products now are absolute CONTRA
band. Information is sought as to
how cargoes now en- route are to lie
affected.
The Italian ambassador informed
the State department that while Sta
tistics would make it appear that ex-
traordinary amounts Of copper shipped
from the United States to Italy
might be for unneutral purposes, the
fact was that as Germany needed her
own copper. Italy could not longer
import from countries Immediately
north Of her. but must depend on the
United States for the metal.
The case Of the steamship Brindlla,
originally detained at Halifax and re-
arrested on her return journey from
Egypt and taken to a French port, is
looked on as likely to produce compli-
cations.
Should the question Of change o.
registry be raised a precedent maybe
set. for while Great Britain has rec
Ognized transfers when Of q bona fide
nature the attitude of France has nev-
er been declared.
The communication which the State
department sent today concerning
naval stores is said to be the first pro-
test on specific articles listed by Great
Britain as absolute contra band. Gov
ernOrs and senators Of several States
were notified of the naval stores pro-
test.
Rosin and turpcntine had been in
tended for ballast with cotton cargoes
and the British government is on rec
ord as stating that cargoes so made up
would not be regarded as contraband.
The State department had no sooner
sent notification to this effect to ship
pers than the British foreign office
published the new cdict.
Although this phase Of the situation
was not specifically mentioned in the
recent American note, it was generally
understood to have been contribu-
tory reason for the dispatch Of the
document.
To prevent recurrence Of charges
that American shippers had been con-
cealing copper and contraband articles
in cotton and other non-contraband
cargoes. the following formal notice,
supplementary to President Wilson's
warning Of last week, was issued to-
day by Secretary Redfeld:
The attention of shippers Of goods
to neutral countries is called to the
importance of having manifests COM
plete and accurate. 1t is essential also
to avoid mixing cOntraband goods in
cargoes otherwise not contraband. 1t is
alleged that some American manifests
have omitted certain contraband
goods, also that efforts have beer made
to conceal cOntraband articles or to
alter their appearance so that they
will be allowed to pass.
"a single case of the kind is enough
to embarras all American commerce
to neutral countries by throwing doubt
on the correctness of our manifests
and on the neutral nature Of our car
goes, thus possibly involving delay
through examining cargOes that other
wise would be avoided"