The Washington times., 1915-06-06
PRODUCES STRANGE RESULTS.

strictions from the United States to
Australia. Neither can feathers. hair.
or bristles. The list comes as whole
under the sweeping ban.
All this Is not especially Important
because steamships are making regular
trips without interference between our
Pacific coast and Australian ports. The
point is that no governmental fnstru-
mentality can give aid. counsel. assis-
tance. in developing this trade. Yet the
Department of Commerce Is organized
very largely for the purpose OF giving
this very sort Of promotive support to
foreign trade.
The United States. in order to be
strictly neutral. must not give Govern
mental countenance to any infractions
Of the neutrality rules Of any warning
countries; and the warning countries
have, among them. expanded their con-
traband lists and conditions now SO far
| that this practically means that the
| American Government Is out OF the
business Of helping promote Foreign
| trade.
British Not So Drastic.
The British contraband regulations
| do not 20 so far. They inhibit condi-
tional contraband destined to the arm
ed forces Of the enemy. The substance
| Of the whole matter Is that. while Ger
many charges England with trying to
! starve the civil population OF Germany.
! Germany. herself. is under these rules,
trying to starve and otherwise oppress
! the civil populations of not only Great
Britain. France. Belgium. Italy. and
Russia. but of all their colonies.
| Some specific cases will explain what
! this means. An American automobite
! company writes to the American consul
! at Melbourne. asking for list OF
agents, hotels, and newspapers, explain.
Ing that It Is desired to open marker
for these machines. and that an adver-
| tising and aScncy campaign 10 to be In
| augurated. The consul. knowing that
automobiles are contraband, replies
| through the State Department. givinl
the information. But when 1t gets Ia
the State Department the letter is held
up, on the ground that to forward II
would be an assault on the contraband
rules OF Germany. and therefore an In
fraction on the strict neutrality OF the
United Staes Government!
One OF the ecccntricities of this kind
of warfare has been presented in the
case of a concern In Hongkong, Brit
ish possession. which aked the American
consul to place him in communication
with American concerns that would sci
wagon wheels suitable for China. The
but it cannot be forwarded to the manu-.
facturers OF wagon wheels who woult
like the business. because to take that
action would be a violation of our obli'
HdIiOflS as AESp Win .
liking for speculation Is at liberty tc
figure Just how thousand wagor
wheels in the Yang-tse provinces would
affect the fighting on the FrancoBel
gian front. No matter; the letter canno
be delivered. and the business will b,
lost.
Here's Another Hitch.
A concern in South Africa wants t
buy mems wooden underwear. 1t ad
dresses the American consul in Johan
nesburg, and he forwards the letter 4
Washington. The inquiry Is for tn,
names OF American manufacturers will
whom correspondence may be inaugu
rated. Johannesburg being in British
territory 1t becomes necessary to hol'
up this letter at the State Department
lest the United States violate it's neu
trality by helping the British subject
|, Of the South African Union get winte
underclothes for next winter.
These interferences OF neutrality witt
the commercial activities OF the Gov
, ernment have nearly retired the De
partrnent OF Commerce from efrectiv
work in the promotion Of foreign trade
, German contraband regulations plu
British censorship of cable dispatche
have brought the difficulties to the poin
where there is beginning to be insist
ent clamor for new and more v1gorou
measures to protect the internationa
rights OF American commerce.