The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-07-09

tie wit the cotton spinners for cot
ton seized. Various excuses have been
given which can be easily answered.
One of these excuses recently en-
bodied in a letter from Edward Grey
is that Swedish consignees are claim
ing some of the cotton. The shippers
from the United States ask nothing
better than t. at cotton should be
turned over to their consignees. Great
Britain does not deliver to Swedish
consignees, or pay the American ship
pers.
Seized Cotton, But Won't Pay.
had brought to my attention with
in the past two weeks the case of a
Southern firm which early in March
shipped several thousand bales of cot
ton to Rotterdam, Holland. A member
of the firm came here and presented
his invoices together with proof of his
contracts of sale to the British en-
bassy, and ought to obtain payment
Tor the cotton which Great Britain
had seized, and sold, but he was able
to obtain no satisfaction.
will not take up more time discuss
ing the mistreatment Great Britain has
given to those cotton shippers whose
cotton has been carried into English
lorts. Vile it is a serious matter
ror the.n to have from $5,000,000 to
So. 000 Coo, which thev should have re-
ceived for heir cotton, tied up by the
British seizures, the really big prob
'em is the loss of our market caused
b. t e ino2a. conduct of Great Brit
al. and ,'e helplessness Of :rdiVid-
lals to defend themselves.
In Spite of Promises Seizures Continue.
The declaration of London made by
the representatives of the great ma
tions of the world, February. 1909,
contained list of those things which
under no circumstances in case of
war were to be made contraband, and
the list was iaeaded by raw cotton.
Great Britain has solemnly pledged
to this government by the letter OF
October 26, that cotton would not be
seized aud :,Eat so far as Great Brit
ain was concerned it was on the free
Es1 and would remain there. In spite
of all TINS, the seizures have been
made AMI the cotton trade with Ger
many, Austria and all of northern
Europe destroyed. Other non-contra-
band commodities have been similarly
;.reated by Great Britain.
There Are Other Rights of Citizens
That Should Be Stressed Upon.
The importance of pressing our
cotton markets can not be over-estl-
mated. 1t is non-contraband and Great
Britain has no rigI:t to make it con-
traband. Great Britain mas no right
to blockade neutral ports. We should
insist upon the rights of citizens of
the United States to ship cotton to
Holland. Denmark and Sweden, even
though it ultimately may go to Ger
many and Austria.
Not one line has gore from our gov
ernment to Great Britain since the let
ter of March 80, which Great Britain
ignored. 1t is but fair to the admins
tration 10 say that I believe the sub
ject would have been aggressive y
handled before the middle of May but
for the sinking of the Lusitania.
We should not submit longer to the
disregard of our rights by Great Brit
ain, no matter what Germany r2as
done. The people of the entire coun-
try should understand what has taken
pace, and especially those who are
being so grievously wronged should
see the hand that strikes tae blow.
But it is said that cotton is used to
make explosives. This is nothing new.
1t was the case when the declaration
of London in 1909 declared that raw
cotton could not be put On the con-
traband list. 1t was the case last
October when we received the solemn
pledge from Great Britain that no
interference should be made with cot
ton shipments. Great Britain can not
now make new rule that we should
recognize on this subject, and she has
nor undertaken even to make cotton
contraband. 1t is being stopped by an
illegal blockade, a blockade which dis
regards recognized principles of inter
national law, and which the declara-
ton of London of February. 1909, ex-
Ipressly declares shall never be made
contraband.
DESTROYING Our Markets, While We