The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Taft is the twirler whom Connie Mack gave the once over. He is a big fellow and has gone strong with the Fort Worth club. Other changes are expected.
 
 firms. whost title of ownership, notwith- standing the action of the American ship pers, appears in some cases to be valid and in others has led to the issue of writs In the prize court.
 Claims Promptly Settled
 ''6. It has been explicitly acknowledged by the special representatives of the American claimants, who have been in constant and direct communication with the board of trade, that all the claims so far submitted under the cotton ar engagement have been settled with the utmost promptitude, as soon as he pro- duction of the necessary documents by the claimants allowed of this being done There Is, at the present moment, no claim before his majestys government that has not been paid, and the sums so paid over are already considerably in excess of the amounts realized by the sale oi the goods.
 "7. As regards the more general alega- ton of delay in dealing with cases of de- tained cargoes, the following facts and figures may be quoted:
 The total number of vessels which having cleared from United States ports since the initiation of the retaiatory measures against German trade, are still detained in United Kingdom ports is y7; of this number eight are dscharging cot ton which his majesty's government has agreed to purchase under the above ar engagement. Of the remaining 19 vessels seven are free to depart as soon as the items of their cargo placed in the prize court have been discharged. The other 12 of which three only are American ships. are detained pending inquiries as to suspicious consignments.
 s. His majesty's government remains convinced that on an impartial review of the facts it will be admitted that no arbi- trary interference with American inter- ests has. in regard to cotton cargoes, occurred. while if due regard be paid to the enormous volume of American and neutral shipping which is continually engaged in the transatlantic trade, the figures and dates quoted in the preceding paragraph will emphasize the restricted nature of any interference which has taken place. and the close attention with which officials concerned have adhered to their instructions to act in all cases with expedition and with every possible consid- eration for neutrals.
 Compelled to Act
 '9 Since his majesty's government has been compelled to adopt it's present meas ures against German commerce, they have given special consideration to the ques- ton of avoiding as far as possible unnec- essary damage to the interests of neu- trals in regard to the export of goods of German origin, and here again liberal concessions have been made to United States citizens. Under the rules enacted on March Il, provision is made for the in- vestigation of all neutral claims respect ing such goods in the prize court, and 1t is obvious that these claims can re- ceive due and equitable consideration most properly before a judicial tribunal. Nevertheless in deference to the express desire of the United States governmnt, arrangements were made toward the end of March whereby United States citizens who might desire to import goods of Ger man origin via neutral port were en- abled to produce proof of payment to his majesty embassy at Washington. If such proof were deemed satisfactory. his majesty's government gave an undertak- ing that the goods concerned should not be interferred with in transit, and the Amer ican importers were freed from the ne- cessity of submitting his claim to the prize court in London for adjudication A few days later his majesty's govern ment further agreed to recognize the neutral ownership of goods of enemy origin even if not paid for before March l, provided they were the subject of an f. O. b. contract of earlier date and had arrived at a neutral port before March 15
 10. Special treatment also has been accorded to cargoes of particular prod ucts destined for the United States and stated to be indispensable for the indus. tries of the country; and. in notes ad- dressed to the United States amba ssador in April and May, undertakings were given not to interfere during transit with certain cargoes of dyestuffs potash and German beet seed.
 Il When it became apparent that large quantities of enemy goods were still passing out through neutral coun. tries his majesty's government felt il necessary to fix definite date after which such shipments must cease to enjoy the special immunity, heretofore granted from liability to being placed in the prize court. It had been observed that large increase had taken place in the number of vessels sailing from neutral countries to America. In such circumstances it ap- peared scarcely possible that goods of the enemy origin, bought and paid for prior to March 1 should not have already been shipped to their destination. June 1 was accordingly fixed as the date after which thc PiNnt6c dHoWeu III lnt cdSt OI SUCH shipments should cease; but once more a special favor was granted by extending the date in exceptional cases to June 15
 i2. Importers in the United States hay ing now had three months in which to clear off their purchases fin enemy terri- tory, his majestys government trusts that, in the presence of the circumstances enumerated, the United States govern ment will acknowledge the great consid- eration which has been shown to Amer ican interests.
 Make Fresh Appeal
 Nevertheless. fresh appeal has now been made to his majesty's governmen, that shipments of American owned goods of enemy origin, if paid for before the beginning of March, should be allowed to be shipped without molestation after June 15. The appeal is based principally upon the contentious (a) that insufficient time has already elapsed (b) that nc mention of time limit is made in the enactment of the 1ith of March; (c) tha,