New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-08-18
Exports Held Up.

The most striking part Of the
Worlds article this morning dealing
with the secret correspondence OF
Germany's representatives in this
country tells of a ruse suggested to
the Imperial German Chancellor with
the aim of increasing here the unpop-
'ularity of England's blockade against
exports from Germany.
A letter written by Herr Waetzoldt,
commercial attache of the German
Consulate in this city, to Chancellor
Won Bethmann-H ollweg is produced.
This letter suggests that steps be
taken in Germany to interrupt the
delivery from Germany of chemicals,
dyestuffs and other products greatly
needed in this country to keep big
:. industries going. The suggestion ap-
piled to such articles as Germany
might easily ship out Of the country.
Outcry Against Great Britain.
The aim set forth was that by hold
ing up these supplies there would
go up a great. cutlery against Great
Britain, and that such pressure would
he brought on the Administration as
ito compel instant action on the part
of the State Department in demanding
that Great Britain lessen the tightness
of it's blockade. ..-
The letter in which Herr Waet-
zoldt suggests the ruse as means
of creating American resentment
against England was written in Ger
man. The translation follows:
Imperial German General Consul
late.
Journal No 1875.
Report No. II. 30-15.
New York, June 80. 1915.
The joint procedure of the impor-
tiers of goods from Germany and
Austria Hungary, suggested in my
report Of June 10, 1915, H. 24-15,
has taken a wider scope than could
J.. have been expected at first.
Petition to Wilson.
The last two meetings, in which a
protest against the British order in
council was formulated, were unex-
pectedly well attended and led to the
sending of a commission to Washing
ton, which was received by Mr.. Ian
- sing of the State Department, and
received firm promises, but no abb
solute assurance, that the Department
of State would guard the interests of
the importers. Further, a petition
was sent to the president, which was
subscribed to by nearly all the large
Importers besides number of Amer
lean business men who receive ma
terials from Germany and Austria
In the petition it was firmly point
ed out that the payment for goods
before shipment was not customary
or business like, and that just the
largest and most responsible Ameri-
can firms, who are accustomed tC
transact their business on open ere
dit, will have TO suffer because oi
the order in council, and that many
American firms also had running con,
tracts for delivery with German fac.
tories, and even also owned some fac.
tories In Germany.
1T is also pointed out in the petition
that the trade with specified person.
In few cases is list as little bene-
fitted as by payne mt for the goods in
case of seizure. The American bust.
ness houses must insist upon q gener.
al permission to deal in goods which
are not contra band. .".
State Department. Policy.
AS I have been assured by the in.
.erested. circles, the State Department
is now no longer inclined to support
the commission for exceptional cases
in isolated instances, but intends tc
work toward a general rule On thi.
bases the Departmnt of State is also
J supposed to be opposed to sending ar
official commissioner to London &
handle isolated cases with the British
Government; it is also to advise
against the sending Of representa-
tive of the importers to London t.
handle the exceptional cases. AL
negotiations of the American Govern
ment with the British government
were, up to this time. unofficial.
AS the movement in the business
world has taken on such a wide scope
and great pressure is being brough,
to bear on the State Department from
official sources, it is possible tina,