Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-12
ADMINISTRATION INCLINED TO
DISCIPLINE Y. S. CONSUL AT
LONDON.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
TO RESENT PUNISHMENT
People From Districts Where Shipping
Trade Has Been Affected by British
Embargo Threaten to Make Trouble
For State Department. if Sop Is Held
Out to London Government.
Especial Correspondence.l

/ Washington, Oct 12.-Admission by
the state department that it has not
/ been decided whether Consul General
Robert Z. Skinner, OF London, is TO re-
turn 10 his post is accepted here as
meaning that the consul general is to
be disciplined for his recent reports
saying the British government, while
Restraining the trade OF Americans with
neutrals, was fostering the trade of its
own exporters with those countries
/ MIR. Skinner will SAIL Oct is and will
i be in Washington late in October. 1t is
generally believed he will not be re-
turned to London. though it is supposed
he will remain in the service. because
his record is that OF a highly efficient
! official.
| 1t has not been cleared up whether
the administration is displeased with
MIR skinner for having voiced his
! views so frankly or whether the Brit
ish government has made 1t known that
it is dissatisfied with Mr.. Skinner and
would be glad TO have some other per-
scr serve consul general. 1t is sup
posed. however. that il is due to dis
pleasure of the British authorities over
The fact that stands out certainly is
that the reports of Mr.. Skinner show
ing (, growing value or re-eXport bust
ness by the British are in accord with
the views OF the situation widely held
among American shippers and business
men Complaints without number from
American shippers have been made that
the British were reaching out with one
h.
neutrals while they were equally dill
gent with the other hand to help along
their own trade. Assertions that the
British were re-exporting some of the
very goods which have been seized
have been made.
Shipping Policy Trouble Cause.
Cotton men of the south are among
those who have been especially bitter
over the manner in which. as they con-
ceive. the English have treated them.
In reports to his government Mr..
skinner set forth detailed figures seem
ing to show that this was exactly what
was happening.
The British foreign office felt the
force of the Skinner reports sufficiently
to come back with other figures in
tended to combat the consul generals
assertions.
Whether the state department has
accepted the British version rather than
that of its own official, and is going
now to discipline him for his course,
remains to be seen. This has come to
be suspected here Another view is
that Mr. Skinner is to be given chance
to sustain his facts and that the de-
partment has called him back to get all
the details he has to give. If he sus-
tains his position. then he is 10 be
either sent back to London or given
a desirable post elsewhere, provided the
Brit do not like his presence.
May Be Fireworks.
The Skinner incident is being
watched narrowly among members of
congress and shippers. When congress
meets. there will be wave of criti-
cisnl of the administration for alleged
failure to insist with sufficient force
on the rights OF American shipping and
uphold those rights as against the al
lies and especially Great Britain. South
ern senators and house members in
scr1,e cases are coming on to Washing
ton with blood in their eye. the men
who are in a truculent mood over the
treatment Of American products include
some of the most powerful democrats
in congress.
If nov, it works out that an Amerf-
can official can not voice what he be-
ueves to be the facts about trade con-
ditions without getting into hot water
for it. and if it eventuatas that he is
not being squarely backed up by the
state department and the administra-
ton, it is not difficult to see that the
gaiety of nations will be contributed
to in no small measure.
The whole subject OF American trade
is going to loom large in the eye of
congress at the coming session. In con-
nection with the bill for government
owned merchant marine, it will call for
the most ample discussion. Conse-
quently, the Skinner incident comes at
time when it is peculiarly interest
ing.