New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-30
Great Britain Modihes
Rules to Relieve Amer
lean Importers.
RELEASES CARGOES
WORTH $4O,OOO,OOO
Coming Financial Agreements
Expected TO Greatly Ease
Cotton Situation.
From Ths Tribune Bureau :

Washington, Aug. 29-American i'm
porters who have been unable TO get
ships to handle their cargoes Of Ger
man goods detained in Rotterdam
owing to the unwillingness Of owners
TO take the risk Of having their yes
sells held up under the British Order
in Council Of March II, are obtaining
some relief through the arrangement
made by the British Cover ment TO
issue permits 10 ship goods which
passed TO American ownership prior
TO March /.
Up to this time shipments Of certain
kinds of goods from Germany have not
been allowed TO pass unless It could be
shown that they were actually paid for
before March. The new order already
has permitted the shipment OF more
than S75O.O00 worth of goods from
Rotterdam. II is estimated that car
goes valued at S40,000,O0O will be re
leased soon. -,
II is expected that arrangements Will
be completed soon for the passage OF
goods purchased since March l. Tho
British government, however, IS averse
to making any definition OF policy IN
this regard, but insists on dealing win
each cargo separately and on its IN
dividusl merits.
To Minimize Cotton Losses.
In British circles here it is conf
IDENTITY expected that informal arrange
ments can be made for improving the
cotton situation and minimizing ne
losses to cotton interests in America
through the recent declaration placing
cotton on the contraband list. Hope Is
EXPRESSED that the commission OF Brit
ish bankers which is TO come TO the
United States TO arrange credits and
attenpt an adjustment Of the exchange
situation will be able 10 bring about
an amelioretion of the trade and con-
traband dilemmas.
II is pointed out that much OF the
dif6culty in which merchants have been
placed has been due not so much 10
the British restraints on commerce as
70 the unsettled and unsatisfactory
status Of the money market II the
excbanre tangle can be Strengthened
ont i Is believed that the greater part
of the trade troubles will disappear
automatically.
In a circular sent TO its members by
the United States Chamber o. Com
merce It is stated that Russia put ra"
cotton, cotton yarn and cotton c!oth OF
its contraband list on April IL 1910
when il was AZ war with Japan.
England entered strong protest 70
this action, and later called confer
ence Of the principal naval powers 10
discuss that and similar matters me
result was the Convention OF London
in 1909. in which raw cotton and COY,
ton warn were out on the free list
with articles which could not be de-
clared contraband Of war.
Satisfactory to United States.
an commenting on this particular
section" says the circular. 1.-THE dele
oates of the United States in their re-
mort TO the Secretary of State gave as
their opinion that the establishment
of this list is of great benefit 10 the
sea-borne foreign trade of all coun-
tries. and especially to that OF the
United States. whose exports and I'M
ports would be greatly affected by any
uncertainty regarding cotton. WOOL
silk. etc
THE convention was subsequently
signed by representatives Of all the
participating powers. but was adverse
lv acted on by the British Parliament
and was not ratified and placed IN
force.
"On August 6, 1914. the United States
asked all the belligerent countries If
they would accept the Declaration OF
London as a code Of naval warfare TO
govern questions arising during the
European war. Germany and Austria
agreed. but England, followed by
France and Russia. accepted the dec
Iaration only with notifications
Thereupon. in October, the United
States withdraw its suggestion and
cave notice that 1t would insist upon
the principles Of international law aYd
its treaties. During the autumn Of
1914 British officials stated there was
no intention of making cotton contra
band of war