The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-13
THE BRITISH COTTON PLAN.
EMBASSY ISSUES STATEMENT
CONCERNING TREATMENT
OF sOUTW's STAPLE CROP.
ships OF Ncutrals safe-Generaily
Believed Same Restrictions VIII
Apply To Other shipments.

washington. March S.---Formal no.
uee or the treatment to be accorded
American cotton by Great Britain and
her allies I'm the execution OF their
declared intention to stop all COM
merce to and from enemy countries
wss given today In a statement issued
by the British embassy. All cargoes
consigned directly TO ports OF an
enemy will be stopped. but as to ship
ments TO neutral European countries
the statement said the following ar
rangement had been made In London:
"one. All cotton for which con-
tracts Of sale and freight engage
ments already had been made before
March TO be allowed free (passage)
Tor bought at contract price IL
stopped). provided ships sail not later
than March 81.
Two. Similar treatment to be ac-
corded to all cotton insured before
March Q. provided II Is put on board
not later than March 1e.
Three. All shipments OF cotton
claiming above protection to be de-
clared before sailing and documents
produced to and certificates obtained
from consular offers or other author
ity hxed by governments. Ships or
cargoes consigned to enemy ports will
not be allowed to proceed"
AT the embassy II was explained
that this arrangement. announced In
response to appeals OF American ship
pers anxious over the status OF their
cotton already on dock awaiting
shipment or actually at sea bound for
Europe. was merely temporary and
would DO superseded by the British
order In council putting into effect
tho new general retaliation policy to
Dc Instituted against Germany. EN-
bassy ofici' In construed the arrange
ment as n concession to neutral ship
psrs. as Premier Asquith In announc-
Ing the new policy N March mere
ly said; The treatment of vessels
and carsoes which have sailed before
this date will not be affected"
Today's statement was regarded
here as important. particularly be-
cause OF It's a parent intimation of
the extent 60 which the allies intend
to Interrupt commerce between neu-
trail countries IN carrying out their
determination TO stop commercial in
tereOurse with Germany.
Ii was suggested at tho embassy
that the restrictions on shipments
generally would be the same as those
imposed on cotton. and that besides
holding up all ships bound directly
for enemy countries. the allied war
ships would stop vessels loaded with
products heretofore free from mo-
lestation as non-contraband, II their
carsoes were presumed to be ulti-
mately destined for Germany, Austria
or Turkey. Embargoes on re-expor-
tation. II was said. would insure safe
passage for such carsoes.
High officials OF the American gov
ernment had no formal comment to
make upon the statement, although
some said informally they did not
know just what II meant. The Unit
ed States holds to the declaration OF
It's right TO ship non-contraband to
bslligerents and to have uninterrupt-
ed legitimate commercial inter-
course with neutrais.
Senator Hoke Smith OF Georgia.
and some Charleston merchants, who.
as representatives OF the cotton ship
pors. consulted with the British am
oassador and Mr.. Rose. the State de-
partments trade expert. today. were
somewhat In doubt as TO just what
concession they had secured I'm an
swer to their appeal. but went away
satisfied.
Cotton they had afoat. or under
contract to ship this month. at least.
would be safe. Furthermore. they
gathered from the British opinion
that satisfactory arrangements would
DO made for continuance indefinitely
without undue interference with the
cotton trade with tho neutral coun-
tries OF Europe.
State department officials let II be
known that the arrangement an
nounced today was made directly be-
tween the American private cotton
shipping interests and tho British gov
ernment and that the department was
not a party TO 1t.
No Date Has Been Set.
London. March s.-Although the