New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-08-14
ALLIES MUST KEEP
COTTON FROM FOE
Lord Cecil Says Product May Be
Made C0ntraband


Cecil. parliamentary under secretary
for foreign affairs, in the course Of
formal interview yesterday de-
ining the British governments at
titude in the complicated cotton sit
uation made this statement:
The allies must by all lawful
means prevent cotton reaching thei1
enemies; it may be considered neces-
sary to make cotton contraband.
At the same time Lord Cecil studi-
ously refrained from any hint that
the comm odity would be removed
from the free list at any specified
date or that the government had
; evolved any solution to meet the de-
mands Of American cotton growers
and neutral consumers. He stated
EXPLICITLY, however, that if cotton
were made contra band, England
would consider the act legal and in
ternationally justified.
Step in Near Future.
His statement, being the first in
behalf Of the government, outside
| parliament relive to cotton, and COM
| ing at a time when the public is
clamoring for drac cite action to shut
off the supply from Germany, is
taken in some quarters to presage
the step in the near future.
Lord Ceicl's statement, which is
prefaced with the explanation that
it describes the governments posi-
ton concerning cotton, so far as it
is at the moment possible to define
it, follows in full:
Aware of e. S. Position.
"The British government, acting in
conjunction with its allies, is giving
the cotton situation it's continuous
and most earnest consideration.
'The government is fully aware of
the Importance of cotton to America
We fully understand that upon sat-
isfactory adjustment of the matter,
depends to a considerable degree the
welfare of nearly quarter of the
population of the United States. The
welfare Of the whole population of
Great Britain, however, also is in
volved, as well as that of all Great
Br1ta1n's allies, for whom the Brit
ish government is acting in these and
other matters concerning contra band
THE fundam entails of the situation
are quite clear. The allies must by
all lawful means prevent cotton
reaching their enemies. That is a vi
tai military necessity which all the
time an equally important consider
alton must be given to a great cot
ton producing country like America
and to consuming countries like
Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Hol-
land. A policy must be devised which
will respect the legitimate rights OF
neutrals and yet safeguard the legi-
innate interests of the allies and
inf1ict as much damage as possible
upon our enemies.
May Be Made COntraband.
Cotton has not yet been declared
contraband, but under our blockade
all cotton which is believed to be
destined for Germans is stopped. 1t
may be considered necessary to make
cotton coEtraband. There is de-
mand in the Allied countries that
this should be done. There is assur-
eddy ample justification for the action
if It is deemed necessary:
Cotton is a very important, an es-
sential ingredient in fact, Of propul-
sion explosives. Copper is contraband
by all the laws Of the nations and vet
in the present war cotton has been
shown to be more important than cop
per- There may be a substitute for
copper in making war munitions. For
cotton there is no known substitute.
If American cotton goes through to
Germany the Germans use it to kill
allied soldiers. Therefore cotton must
not go to Germany.
Would Be Legal Act.
making cotton contraband would
be a distinctly legal action and can be
internationally justified beyond pro-
test. So far as American cotton is
concerned, however, the problem of
marketing cotton on this side would
undergo little change. American cot
ton destined for Germany is now
stopped. If the product were made
contraband it would be stopped in the
same manner. The principal differ
ence would be that if cotton were con-
traband, shipments from America,
which were suspected of being for
Germany, would be seized and would
be liable to confiscation by prize
court procedure if proof were OBJ
talnable of German destination,
whereas now the cotton is seized but
not necessarily confiscated
I'm any case, whether cotton is
: contraband or not, the allies must
permit neutral trading in this product.
American growers must be given their
market in neutral countries even if
! they are adjacent to Germany, and
the industries Of those countries must
have the cotton required for their
own needs How to permit this sup
ply to move forward and yet safe
guard the allies interests by making
sure that none of it will go to the
enemy, constitutes complicated
problem of great dimensions
Action Only Against Foe.
1--WE are interested only in keeping
! cotton out of Germany. We not only
! do not object to it's going to neutral