The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
IMPORTERS
WANT. OPEN
WAY FOR ALL
Think British FavOrs to
Few DO Not End Prob
lem of Tieup.
FIND THOUSANDS
FORCED TO WAIT

Protests from importers that they
have not been fairly treated In the mat
ter of getting permits ron the British
Government for the shipment OF goods
held In Rotterdam have drawn explana-
tons from several sources in Washing
ton. Statements have been made by
william w. Bride. the agent who re-
signed from the State Department and
obtained permits for several Arms by
personal appeal In London, and by
concern with which Mr.. Bride formed a
connection.
Bernard, Judae 4 Co. denied that i'm
porters had had TO submit themselves
60 unfair practices" They pointed out
that MIR. Bride went to London only
when the British Government had noti-
fed the foreign trade advisers OF the
State Department in Washington that no
permit would be granted and when at
appeared hat the services OF the for
eign trade advisers were at an end"
They said In brief that American I'M
porters greatly obtained benefit through
Mr.. Brides Journey TO England.
Thinks II Not to the Point.
The New York firm OF importers
whose letter published In THE Sun on
Friday aroused II great deal OF interest
in this city and Washington sent to II
SrN yesterday "A reply to Bernard.
Judae 4 Co. This importing firm says
that the explanation Of the brokerage
house is not quite to the point. The let
ter continues:
'The fact that some OF the importers
have secured permits from the English
Government through Mr.. Bride or at
torneys working through Mr.. Bride Is OF
course satisfactory to both the importers
who have rot received these permits and
to the importers who have received them
Neither is Mr.. Bride 10 be blamed for
securing these favors or permits unless
1t was impossible for Mr.. Bride to secure
these permissions in the unofficial ca
pacity through which he learned the
business of the importers. or, In other
words, unless 1t was impossible for him
10 do this for all the importers In the
United States instead Of a few ~ them.
1.-THE question Is whether Mr.. Bride
could have done this or not and what
opened the hearts OF the British For.
elgn Office so as TO make them so will
ing to help the American importers as
Mr.. Bride says, when he was unabl,
TO do this In the unofficial capacity In
the State Department. II the British
Government allowed goods TO com,
forward which were solicited by these
gentlemen why does II not allow tn,
goods to come forward which are sole,
tied through the State Department now
Sees Plan tn Please BritOns.
1.-THE amount Of non-contraband i'm
nDrfEd in fhlS country In any rnOl
year from Germany Is not importan
enough to make an issue in the wa
or to make the British Order in Coun
Gil. as Mr.. Bride says, the stronge
arm of the British Government There
fore the enforcement of the British
Order in Council is only To pacify thu
manufacturers of England who wish q
supplant the German goods not onl'
now but after the war. because 1t /
common knowledge that 10 create busi
ness In another country takes man.
years. while the stoppage of supple
would mean the breaking of the bus!
ness.
W believe this Government derive
an income of over $3.50, OOO. 900 70
goods which are brought from Germany
and which amount it now appears mus
be raised by some other kind OF taxa
ton.
"The question is why the State De
partmcnt, for whom unofiicially JudC
Fleming and the gentlemen who are con
nected with him are working so hard
Cannot get the action which Mr.. Bird,
n attorneys through Mr.. Bride wer
able to get In England. and why do tn
importers have to clamor. as they ar
clamoring at Washington, in order L
get their goods through piectmeal, a
they have been getting them throug
the staff in WASHINGTON. who have beel
working as hard as Mr.. Fleming and hi
aides have been?
BERNARD. Judae & Co. seem 10 thin
that the people complaining are author
styling themselves to be Importers bu
the fact Is that all importers are com
planning, many OF them the customer
Of Bernard. Judae & Co,
ct Is true that the firms who hav
secured permits through the abov
sources have very little TO say and Yer
little complaint 70 make because the
are able to keep up their business. Will
other firms must go out OF business an
lose all they have. but all importers ar
Obliged TO keep mum or be- blacklistet
What, however, Is the state Depar,
ment going to do II their efforts are nc
as productive as those OF Messrs. Bel
nard, Judae & Co, and Mr.. Bride. an
will the importers get relief? Is II
British Foreign ONCE to continue
what they are doing when evidentl
private people have been able to 81
what was promised by the British Coy
eminent? Altogether there are ov'
1000 applications for relief from tn
situation. some of which are bein
granted or not granted at all at II
rate of several a day. and most OF II
merchandise is composed OF seasonal
or holiday goods.
again. where does the importer e.
off who has ordered goods since MarC
]" lie also has to pay for these goo'
the same as II they were ordered befol
March l."