The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1915-06-21

One OF these excuses recently en-
bodied in letter from Sir Edward
Grey is that Swedish consignees are
claiming some of the cotton. The snip
pers from the United States ask moth
ing better than that 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 Wouldn't Pay
For 1t.
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 sought to obtain payment |
for 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 |
ports. While it is a serious matter |
for them to have from $4,000, 900 to 49, |
100000, which they should have re-
ceived for their cotton, tied up by |
the British seizures, the really big |
problem is the loss of our market |
caused by the illegal conduct of Great |
Britain, and the heplessness of indi-
viduals to defend themselves
In Spite Of Promises Seizures
Continue.
The declaration of London made by |
the representatives of the great ma
lions of the world, February, 1909, |
contained a list of those things which |
under no circumstances in case of war
were to be made contraband, and the
list was headed by raw cotton.
Great Britain has solemnly pledged
to this government by the letter of
October 26th that cotton would not be
| seized, and that so far as Great Brit
ain was concerned it was on the free
list and would remain there. In spite
of all this, the seizures have been
made and the cotton trade with Ger
many, Austria and all of northern
Europe destroyed. Other non-contra-
band commodities have been similarly
treated by Great Britain.
There Are Other Rights" OF Citizens
That Should Be Stressed Upon
Inc Importance of preserving our
cotton markets cannot be oyer-esti
mated. 1t is non-contraband and Great
Britain has no right to make it con-
traband. Great Britain has 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 gone from our gov
eminent to Great Britain since. the let
ter of March 3Oth, which Great Brit
ain ignored. 1t is but fair to the ad.
mlnlstration to say that l believe the
subject would have been aggressively
handled before the middle of MAY but
Tor the sinking Of the Lusitania.
Should Hold England To Account No
Matter What Germany Has Done.
We should not submit longer to the
disregard of our rights by Great Brit.
| ain, no matter what GERMANY has
done. The people of the entire coun-
try should understand what has taken
place, and especially those who are
being so grievously wronged should
see the hand that strikes the blow.
RlIt II &c soil
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 upon the con-
traband list. 1t was the case last
october when we received the solemn
pledge from Great Britain that M
interference should be made with cot
ton shipments. Great Britain cannot
now make new rule that we should
recognize on this subject, and she has
not undertaken even to make cotton
contraband. 1t is being stopped by an
illegal blockade, blockade which dis.
regards recognized principles of inter.
national law, and which the Declare.
ton of London of February, 1909. ex.
pressly declares shall never be made
Destroying Our Markets, While We
Supply Her With Ammunition.
| Our own government has notified
Great Britain that this interference is
"a distinct invasion of the SOVEREIGN
rights of the nation whose trade and
commerce is interfered with"
Great Britain and the allies are re-.
ceiving half of their munitions of war
from the United States They would
destroy the market fer the farmers Of
the South, and the market for manv
American producers, while they rely
upon the United States to furnish
them their implements of war.
No Occasion For War, But "Firmness"
Is Needed Here, Too.
There is no occasion to involve the
United States in war with Great Brit
ain and the allies, but we should def
nitely notify them that unless our neu-
trail rights are regarded they cannot
continue to receive neutral privileges