New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-22
Representations All Informal.

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that certain informal representations
had been made by the State Depart
ment to the British government in
specific cases and that inquiries had
been addressed to the British govern
ment in certain instances.
The statement follows:
"The foreign trade advisers atten-
ton has been called to the statements
of the Foreign Office of Great Britain
published in this mornings papers, an
extract from which follows:
'Fourth-ln accepting this scheme,
which it may be noted applies to ship
ments of cotton for a neutral destlna-
ton only, the principal representative
of the American cotton interests de-
scribed it 10 his majesty's ambassador
at Washington as conceding all that
the American interests could properly
ask. Ii was never suggested that YES
sells or cargoes with an enemy destina-
ton should be allowed 10 proceed. His
majesty's government were moreover
given to understand that the provisions
of the arrangement were acceptable 10
the United States government
THE plan referred TO is the one
which was entered into between the
cotton shippers of this country and
the British Embassy, portion of
which is quoted in the statement of
the British Foreign Office.
Without discussing at this time the
statement that 1T was never suggested
that vessels or cargoes with an enemy
destination should be allowed to pro-
ceed,' the foreign trade advisers, who
informally and unoficially represented
the cotton shippers in the negotiations
which led up to the so-called cotton
arrangements, state that II was dis
tinctly understood between Sir Cecil
Arthur Spring Rice, the British Am
bassador at Washington. and Robert +.
Ross, the foreign trade adviser, con-
Quoting this discussion on behalf of
the American cotton exporters. that
nothing done by the foreign trade adj
visers should be regarded as official,
and that everything done was to be
considered as informal and unofficial
and in no way binding the United
States government to any arrangement
reached, or to be construed as recog-
milton of the Order in Council to be
issued or the declaration of March !
which had been issued.
Embassy Calls II Error.
"This statement was made 10 the
British Ambassador on March 3. when
the first conference in the matter was
held. was repeated at each subsequent
conference, and each time the absolute
assurance from the British Ambassa-
dor was received that, in acting for
the cotton shippers in any way, the
foreign trade advisers were TO be re-
garded as not representing the United
States government in any manner"
The British Embassy, in statement
tonight, declared that the reference
in the memorandum in Paragraph 4
was an error, and that there never was
any question of a formal or official
understanding between the United
States government and the British En-
bassy.
The embassy says the arrangement
in question was the subject of con-
versation between the ambassador and
representatives of the cotton interests.
The statement follows:
"The terms of the arrangement
quoted in the British statement as
telegraphed were arrived at in London
between a private representative of the
American cotton interests in London
and British officials in London. The
reference to the British Ambassador in
Paragraph 4 is, therefore. an error.
"The arrangement in question formed
the subject of conversations between
the ambassador and representatives of
the cotton interests in this country.
There never was any question OF a
formal and official understanding be-
tween the United States government
tko DrittSb y mi "