The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-07-23
BRITAIN MAY
BAR COTTON
Considers Putting 1t on
the Contraband
List
CAUSES MUCH
CONCERN HERE
Issue Threatens to Become
Serious to This
Country

Washington, July 23--The growing
e agitation in England in favor of placing
cotton on the British contraband list Il
attracting wide attention here Despite
the fact that the British government
q last fall declared its intention not tC
make cotton contra band and the fact that
II it is known to be still unwilling to take
{ such action, it is believed to be within
r the range of possibility that it viii feel
!, compelled to yield to the strong pres
sure being brought to bear upon it at
7 home.
At the same time that this agitation
is being fomented in England the Wash
{ ington administration is also perceiving
+ that il soon will have to face a revived
campaign about cotton in this country.
{ 1t is therefore more than likely that
, within the next few weeks the cotton
| question will be very much of an issue
for the president and his advisers.
The cotton question il being called up
anew by men representing southern in
terests who are pointing out that while
the world cotton market outside of Ger
many and Austria is now overstocked
nearly 100000 bales, there is already in
sight another large crop. The desire of
the cotton interests is of course for the
/ United States government to secure ac
cess to the German and Austrian mar
kets. That would just about take up
the surplus from last years crop.
There is no prospect OF this being ac-
complished, according to statements made
in responsible quarters. In fact the ad
ministration is not even attempting to
secure direct access to those markets.
as it does not feel that it has any ground
on which to make such an attempt. The
right of the British to blockade Ger !
many and Austria is conceded and this |
government has even conceded that a I
blockade may possibly be legal even If |
not maintained under precisely the same |
conditions that were held requisite before
the advent of submarines as important I
elements in maritime warfare.
All that the United States is contend /
ing for in the cotton issue is the right l
of Americans to ship cotton to neutral
countries without interference. 1t has
refused to recognize the right of the
British authorities to seize cargoes Of
cotton consigned to neutrals on the
ground that they were ultimately des-
tined for Germany or Austria. That the
British are paying for cotton that is
seized does not alter the position OF the
United States on the principle involved.
Should Great Britain declare cotton
eontrabsnd and should the United States
accept such a declaration the situation
would be much less satisfactory from
the point of view of both the cotton
shippers and the state department Cot &
. Al g -. -
TO Germany could then be seized and !,
conilseatcd without compensation on the
ground that il was destined for use OF
the enemy. The shippers would thus {
lose their property, whereas now, though
unable to make deliveries at the points n,
desired, they are being compensated when
heir shipments are taken by the Brit =
sh. h
The position Of the state department o.
would be less advantageous, for il is a
doubtful whether IL could object TO the
eizure Of cotton designed for shipment "
through neutral countries This is large.
Y due 70 the fact that the German gov. b,
rnment Is understood 70 have taken con- A.
rol Of all cotton supplies in Germany.
nd thus Il could Be maintained with y
orce that cotton, as contraband. being y
emit into Germany through neutral coun. -
ries was contraband destined for The y
nemy government. While the issue has -
Of vet arisen, Il appears that the trend
( opinion Is toward the belief that the tr
'nited States could not successfully con. Dl
rovert such . claim a. England would
ut forward II cotton were made con. IN
raband. -
Civil War Ruling Cited. II
The position Of the United states IN
-gard 20 cotton u a matter Of dispute
! Il held by Europe that the United Z
tates declared cotton contraband Of war
the Civil war Many Americans ron.
nd. however. that the cotton was not
ade contraband OF war. but was sub
q 20 confsoation. since 20 reach the
rh seas IL must have been run through
e federal blockade and therefore sub.
q 90 seizure.
EAR. - that some doubt exists ~ to
bat measure 81 sucoess this government
uld expect IN cortending that cotton
ould never b. regarded ss contraband.
British officials have recently indicat-
that the reason bic malesty's govern
mt has RETAINED from putting cotton
the coutrahand let vas q desire toI
old unnecessary irritation Of the
a5ted states There 10 no reason 20
ult this. - there have been repeated
idences that the British sutlorities
~ Appreciated the Importance Of eft
j iH American eeomnnir and political
2 and the aanrers whieh migtt result
drsstie policy iu regard b cotton
suAd arouse ths entire south afainst
- Britain.
IAss Fiew d hsinr mft ~ ta,ass -
q ths uauf.s 81 a. msks rafton sun-
.tsff uth thf statement fiat fhs
tish ore suferinr 81 $40 war 81 fhis
.siasratiuE fuF Amartean Interests smH
g ttsFfiuFs thf neHsssitias ~ ffr o.
iaa rFguire that thf gnrsrumarf de-
{ ths policy ski.h i hau.rssrtnF fts
nss ~ tis BRITISH measures agrfnss
-mNrF.