Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1915-05-23
ALL CONFERENCES
ARE SUSPENDED
Secretary Bryan Says Step
Taken to Secure Better
Understanding With Brit
ish as to Status Of For
eign Trade Advisers
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1spArcHl


WASHINGTON, May 22.-The de-
termination of the United States gov
ernment not to recognize or be bound
! by the provision of the British order
| in council which declared an en-
barge on all commercial intercourse
directly with Germany as well as
inward or outward bound through
neutral countries, was manifested in
several ways. Foreign trade advisers
of the state department announced
they had to suspend all conferences
with British embassy officials here
in reference to informal arrange
ments which have been in progress
and not only assist American cotton
exporters in obtaining payment for
cargoes det9ined, but also to secure
for American importers, American
| owned goods now in Germany, con-
tracted for before the order went
into effect
Secretary Bryan said the step was
taken in order to secure a better
understanding with the British gov
ernment as to the capacity in which
the foreign trade advisers are act
ing.
Ambassador Page at London was
instructed also to inquire of the Bri-
tish foreign office the meaning of a
statement made in the memorandum
issued Thursday. that the terms of
the arrangement between American
cotton representatives, and the Bri-
ish government were acceptable to
the United States government. Sir
Cecil Spring Rice. British ambassa-
dor, called on Secretary Bryan dur
ing the day to explain ne also al
4
States government was not to be
considered as having recognized he
British order in council, irrespective
| of assistance given to cotton ship
pers by the foreign trade advisers
of the state department. Some error
he understood had been made in
London on the subject. The decision
of the trade advisers to suspend
conferences, however, was reached
before the British foreign office me-
| mOrandum was issued, based on diff
ferences of a. practical character as
to the shipments of American owned
goods from Germany through neu-
trail countries, some of which had
been contracted for, and some which
were even paid for before the order
IN council was issued.
While officials of the department
were reticent concerning the diff
ferenceS referred to by the foreign
trade advisers, these are understood
to relate to correspondence between
! the British officials and advisers
offering q plan for the treatment
of American-owned goods origin
ally the time limit for the shipment
out of Germany was set for June 1:
but the British government announ-
ced several days ago that this pc
riod had been extended until June
18th.
In granting this concession. Bri-
tish officials are understood to have
referred to it as a concession to
the United States government and.
this, as well as other features of the
plan whereby American-owne goods
are to be shipped through neutral
ports from Germany to the United
States, are of such a character Is
States, are of such a character as
believe that any acquiescence would
be construed as a legal recognition
of the British order in council.
Until a different understanding is
reached or the plan for the handling