Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-26
BRITAIN DENIES BAN
ON MEDICAL GOODS
Embassy Issues Statement Prohibi'
ton Not So Sweeping as Had
Been Said.
AN EXPLANATION IS GIVEN


WASHINGTON, Dec ga statement
was issued by the British embassy to-
night denying that Great Britain had
extended TO hospital supplies Of. all kinds
it's prohibition against the shipment to
Teutonic countries Of such supplies made
OF rubber.
Difficulties encountered by the Amer
lean Red Cross in obtaining permits for
the passage of hospital stores have been
brought to the attention Of the State de
partment, and yesterday 1t was learned
that the department had communicated
with the London foreign office seeking
to facilitate the dispatch OF large guam.
titles OF goods accumulated at the New
York headquarters OF the Red Cross
Officials of the society say they have
been unable 70 obtain permits for the
shipment OF supplies OF any description
to the central powers.
Hope All VIII he Well.
In view of the British embassy's state
ment. however. It is hoped that this sit
uation was the result Of some misunder-
standing which may now be cleared
away.
The statement follows:
"A statement has been published in the
press to the effect that Great Britain
has suspended the issuance OF permits
for shipments OF hospital supplies of any
description from the United States e
Germany. Austria. Hungary. Bulgaria
and Turkey"
The facts are as follows:
ION May II the British government
communicated to the United States gov.
eminent a list OF articles which they
were prepared to accept as coming
within the description contained In the
Declaration OF London, article xxx %
as articles serving exclusively to aid tho
sick and wounded and therefore not liza.
BILE TO be considered as contraband oil
war, provided that a general agreement
between the beiligerent powers could be
secured. 1t was not until December
that the British embassy was informed
that Germany had agreed to this list
But the articles mentioned on the list
have been given permits since the wal
began.
Not IncIuded I'm List.
Rubber goods, such as gloves and
rubber sheets. were not included in this
list. and rubber being contraband OF
war and an article of great Importance
from a military point Of view, such goods
were not allowed to pass into Germany.
The British government. however, after
careful confederation of all circumstances
offered to allow all hospital stores,
whether on the list or not, to pass freely
on receipt OF a guarantee that these
stores should be used exclusively by the
American Red Cross and destroyed after
being used
This guarantee the American Red
Cross was unable to give, their units
having been withdrawn from Europe
They have recently applied for permits
Tor very large consignment OF rubber
goods on account OF q Netherlands So
ciety for the use OF the German Red
Cross In southeastern Europe, including
ZOO meters Of rubber tubing and s.OOO
square meters OF rubber sheeting. This
proposal. In view Of recent attempts to
smusgie rubber into Germany. requires
careful confederation and is now before
the allied governments.
II IL absolutely untrue that the pro-
hioition has been extended to all sup
plea. The State department and the
American Red Cross society have been
Informed OF the abOve-mentIoned cir
cumstances in letters dated the 2ist and
25d instant"