The Washington times., 1915-07-15
Suffragette Writes of
Danger to America and
Civilization in Letting
Germans Secure Cotton.
America Open to German
Attack If Great Britain Is
Weakened, She Declares in
Official Organ. )
"HIS ARTICLE is reprinted
from The Suffragette. the
pn nk hnrat enffra 90 organ Of

THIS ARTICLE is reprinted
from The suffragette. the
Pankhurst suffrage organ OF
July 2. An interview with
Miss Pankhurst was printed. on this
page in January of this year in which
she fatty denied having come to
this country to, create a war senu-
ment.
The following article, however,
picking Washington as the chief
battlefield' for German interests,
and asking whether or not we
(EnglandD are putting up q strong
enough Defense" leaves the question
of her purpose In this country sew
eral months ago, still open for dis
cussion. While the suffragettas are
fancy in theory has evidently not
ceased.
By CHRISTABEL PANKHURST
1t Is true that the United States
Government has stood firm In the re-
fusal TO violate Its own neutrality
by placing an embargo on the export
OF munitions of war.
dilection for compromise which Is
shared by many political persons In
our own country, the United States
Government has yielded to German
American pressure on other points
Can we be surprised at that when
our own Government has been so
lenient In dealing with German in
terests since war broke out?
In any case the fact renal ms that
the concessions we have made and
are making to American" interests.
are often II not always made to Ger
man-American interest-which is to
say German interests!
From genuine Americans as dis
tinct from Herrnan.Americans We
have had plenty OF encouragement
TO be firm and to use our sea power
to the full in cutting off German
supplies and In bringing the war to
an end.
In a direct message to the British
public. George Harvey. president Of
the great American publishing firm
OF Harper Brothers. and editor OF
the North American Review. told US
distinctly that so far as American
public opinion Is concerned we could
make cotton contrab band!
But OF course. besides doing that
we must also prevent cotton grown
In EEvpt and India from reaching
the enemy. For such cotton has
reached the enemy!
From the United states have come
two letters written by American
readers of the Suffragette.
The first says:
II you will look up the trade In
Egyptian cotton OF Austria, Ger
many. Switzerland. and Italy during
the year 1913 and during 1914, you will
find that Switzerland and Italy took
in 1914 surplus amount OF cotton
corresponding to the decreased
amount taken by Austria and Ger
many. Thus England. In order to
keep her hold on Egypt, allowed
Italy and Switzerland to take for
Austrian and German account all the
Egyptian cotton needed in Austria
and Germany. You will hardly ex-
pcct the people of the United States
to see England let Egypt sell cotton
TO Italy and Switzerland for German
account and not allow the Southern
States to sell Holland and Sweden
American cotton for German and
Austrian account. This Is a case
where equality Is equity.
The second letter says:
AS / understand the matter, cot
ton has. like wool and other textile
materials. never been made contra
band of war. and is not Included In
the list of contraband materials
specified by treaties hitherto.
But since 1t has now become the
principal material for the manufac-
ture of explosives. II Is clearly with
in the right and duty of England
and the allies to prevent its export
to GERMANY and 1t is surprising that
they have not already done so.
do not wonder that the Germans
smile at your allowing them to pro-
cure the cotton.
Scientific opinion Is that by allow
ing cotton to reach Germany. we
have prolonged the war. involved the
country in huge additional debt.
sacrificed thousands and thousands
of lives and risked the very life of
the nation.
Two reasons have been given for
this policy.
The first was:
Cotton was of little Importance In
the manufactu of explosives.
Germany had plenty of cotton.
Germany could use cotton rags.
sfa a