The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-13
TO PROTECT TRADE
ENGLAND TAKES STEPS TO AVOID
DELAY OF Our SHIPS
PLANS Being PERFECTED

British Ambassador Says Only Eight
American Ships Have Been Put
Into Prize Court-Nayal Stores
| May be Shipped Without Difficulty
| Official Statement.
Great Britain, Italy and The Meth
erlands have reached an agreement
whereby commerce to the latter two
countries from the United States Is
expected to meet with minimum
molestation. Great Britain, accord
ing to statements from both the Brit
ish embassy and State department,
also has taken steps to remedy some
Of the complaints made by the United
States in its recent protest.
The statements indicated that so
far as Italy and Holland aresconcern-
ed, the British government now be-
ieves the danger of getting contra
band articles through to Germany
and Austria has been removed.
Should effective measures be agreed
on between the Allies and the other
European neutrals British officials
believe American commerce in future
will not be subject to delays and In
reference.
American Minister Van Dyke, at
The Hague, cabled Thursday that the
British, French an6 Russian minis
ters had given formal assurances that
merchandise, even Of a contraband
character, would not be .molested on
the high seas if consigned to the re-;
Gently established Netherlands mon
| opoly.
Secretary Bryan received a per
sonal note from SIR Cecil Spring-Rice,
the British ambassador, stating that
inasmuch as the re-eXportation Of
naval stores probably would be pre-
hibited by Italy and Holland, ar
rangements would soon be completed
whereby these products could be ship
oed without difficulty to those coun.
tries from the United States.
The British ambassador also issued
the following statement:
shipments for Italy in. Italian
steamers of goods placed on the en-
barge list Of the Italian government
and consigned to named persons are
free.
Articles for Holland (apart from
copper, petroleum and grain, except
rice and corn), which must be coa-
signed to The Netherlands govern
ment, should be consigned to The
Netherlands Overseas Trust to insure
non-interference.
"Out Of 773 vessels that have pro-
ceeded from the United States to-
Scandinavian countries, Holland >an6
Italy, since the beginning OF the wsr5
only. eight have been Dut1 infoe the
Prize Courts and one Of these has
been released, leaving only seven de-
tained for decision of the Prize Court.
By far the greater number Of those
detained for examination have BEEN
already released.
with regard to purchases OF car
goes the British government has pur.
chased many cargoes Of copper ana
has not yet condemned or conhscated
any neutral cargo or consignment, al
though some are awaiting ad5udica-
tion."
In connection with this statement
government officials pointed out thas
while only eight ships have been put
into Prize Courts, scores Of others
had been held up for varying periods
of time before being released. 1t was
not only these delays, but the conse-
auent moral effect on shippers, VINO
hesitated to subject perishable goods
to extended examination In. British
ports, which brought forth the Amer
lean note. The fact that only eight
Eases actually were taken into Prize
Courts has convinced many officials. ),
that the bulk of American commerce
was of a legitimate character, and
that most Of the detentions OF Amer
ican ships were without real cause.
The text Ct the cab1egram received
oy The Netherlands minister from hts
government was summarized In the
following statement by the state de-
partment: =
"The British and French minis
ters, who were joined orally by the
Russian minister, have declared by
note dated December % that con-
traband merchandise which is con-
signed to the recently estaoitsheo
Netherlands monopoly for the receipt
Of imports will not be stopped. They.
also declared that their government
would not stop foodstuffs (the neces-
saries Of life) consigned to mer-
chants unless the merchants are BE-
vond a doubt mediums of delivery to:
the governments at war with Great
Britain, France and Russia.
"The British ambassador gave Mr.
Bryan a general summary OF :-the
status of some specific questions rails
ed outside of the American note on
the general subject of commerce. Mr.
Bryan issued the following statement
| based on the ambassadors memo
randum:
| "The question of rubber is believ-
ed to be approaching a satisfactory
settlement. Progress is being made
with the question Of naval stores,
and it is expected that arrangements
will be made by which shipments can
be made to The Netherlands and
Italy and other neutrals without DIFF
fcuIty."