The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-18
WOULD STOP COTTON TRADE.
UNDER SECRETARY OF ENGLAND
SAYS 1T MAY BE NECESSARY
TO MAKE STAPLE CON.
TRABAND.
British Government, lie Says, Is
Anxious to- Work rs Little Hardship
rs Possible to Neutrals.

DVhuoh' aug lo.-LOru Robert
Cecil. parliamentary under secretary
for foreign affairs. In q formal inter-
view today defining the British gov
ernment's attitude in the cotton situ-
alton. made this statement:
The allies must by all lawful means
prevent cotton reaching their enemies;
1t may be considered necessary to
make cotton contraband."
AT the same time Lord Cecil re-
Trained from any hint that the COM
modify would be removed from the
free list at any specific date, or that
the government had evolved any solu-
ton to meet the demand Of American
cotton growers and neutral consum-
ers He said explicitly, however, that
IL cotton were made contraband Eng
land would consider the act legal and
internationally justified.
The statement, being The first In be-
half OF the government outside of
parliament, relative to cotton, and
coming at a time when the public is
clamoring for drastic action to shut
of the supply from Germany. is TAX
en- In some quarters to presage this
step In the near future. Lord Cecils
statement, which is prefaced with
the explanation that it describes the
governments position concerning cot
ton so far as 1t is at the moment
possible to define It," says
THE British government is giving
the cotton situation its continuous and
most earnest consideration. We fully
understand that upon a satisfactory
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 Brit
ain. however. also is involved, as we'll
as that of all Great Britain's allies,
for whom the British government is
acting In these and other matters con-
corning contraband and trade.
The fundamentals OF the situation
arc quite clear. The allies must by
all lawful means prevent cotton reach
ing their enemies. That Is vital
military necessity which all the world
will recognize.
AT the same time. and equally i'm
portant' consideration must be given
10 great cotton producing country
like America and to consuming coun
tries like Sweden. Norway. Denmark
and Holland. A policy must be de-
vised which will respect the legitimate
rights OF neutrals and yet safeguard
the legitimate interests of the allies
and infiict as much damage as possi-
BILE upon our enemies.
Cotton has not yet been declared
eontraband, but under our blockade
all cotton which is believed to be des-
tined for Germany is stopped 1t NAV
NiS" hcScoSdIy 10 make cot
ton contraband There is a demand
In the allied countries that this should
be done. There is assuredly ample
Justification for the action if it is
deemed necessary.
Cotton is u very important. an es-
sential ingredient in fact, of propul-
sion explosives. Copper Is contra
pand by all the laws Of the nations
and yet In the present war cotton has
been shown to be more important
than copper. There may be a substi-
tutc for copper i'm making munitions
OF war. For cotton there Is no
known substitute. If American cot
ton goes through to Germany the Ger
.mans use 1t to kill allied soldiers
Therefore, cotton must not go to Ger
many.
Making cotton contraband would
be distinctly legal action and can
be internationally justified beyond
protest. 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. III the product were madc
contraband. IT would be stopped i'm
thc same manner. The principal diff
hculty would he that If cotton were
contraband. shipments from Amer
lca' which were suspected of being
for Germany. would be seized and
would be liable to- confiscation by
prize court procedure. if proof were
obtainable OF German destination.
whereas now the cotton is seized, but
not necessarily coniscatcd.
In any case. whether cotton Is con-
4 m q Ia.