New-York tribune., 1915-07-20
u. S. to Protest Seizure
of German Goods for N. Y.

London. July ;G.-Ah American de-
rand that Great Britain release the
cargo taken from the American steamer
Neches. bound from Rotterdam for New
York. will soon be made. II VIII marx
a concrete objection to the order IN
Council Of March II, against whlcn
America long ago protested. ,
1t will constitute the first case which
has reached the diplomatic stage OF
westward bound American ship, selzed
by British warshlps and taken 10 Ihe
Downs, where her cargo was discharged
because il was of German origin.
The Order in Council is designed to
stop all German commerce, incoming
and outgoing. When the captain OF
the Neches refused the Admiralty took
over the ship and emptied the cargo.
The American government CONTENDS
that the seizure is absolutely lllegai
and demands the release OF the cargo.
The case will be important, as IT IN
wolves Americas contentious Of the IL
legality of the whole blockade proceed
uTe. In,
Signs are apparent that the Difficult
ties regarding cOntraband are driving
the British government TO take a much
broader view Of the entire cotton ques-
ton. The point now being considered
is whether it is possible to encourage
sufficiently the cultivation OF cotton
within the British Empire 10 an extent
to make Britain independent OF the
virtual American monopoly.
For this reason Professor Todd, OF
Nottingham. reputed to be the greatest
British cotton expert. Will SAID Tor
India az the end of July to make full
investigation and report on cottoH po-
tentiallties.
Injuries bv The Tribune to-day re-
garding the cotton situation 90 20 show
that. despite Lord Robert CeciPs speech
last week, official attitude is randy
yeering toward making cotton absolute
contraband.
The British government since March
II has paid 100000 (S3,500OOO) on
cotton cargoes. twenty-five shipments
of which have been purchased IN pur-
suance Of the arrangement with Amer
lean cotton shippers.
In giving this information in the
House of Commons to-day Lord Robert
Cecil, Parliamentary Under Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, said the number Of
vessels with cargoes made up solely or
partly Of cotton which had been di-
verted to ports of the United Kingdom
since March II was forty-nlne, and to
other British ports eleven.
The American note has not yet been
published here Officials state II viii
receive careful consideration and a
speedy response. In one quarter IL is
stated that there appears TO be a mis-
understanding concerning British prize
court procedure, which, il is cOrtended,
has not and will not violate interna-
tional rights. The whole Anglo -Amerl-
can situation is regarded as exceed
ingly important, and officials refrain
from discussion.
In an editorial "The Times" makes
another strong plea for the making Of
cotton contraband. The newspaper re-
fers to its Washington correspondents
reports that the American government
refuses to admit the legality of the
British blockade.
Arguing that Great Britain acquiesced
in the American governments exten-
sion of the blockade during the Civil
War, "The Times" says:
surely the Americans will not dis
pute that we have the right of eXten-
sion which they have so widely assert
ed and exercised themselves. If cotton
could be regarded as contraband in the
SOS merely because ii enabled the bel
ligerents to buy ammunition, how much
more certainly can it be so regarded
now that il has become a necessary in
gredient in the manufacture OF explo-
sives ~