Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-06-03
ITALY ADDS TO
TRADE TROUBLES
Complications In Mediterra-
mean Confidently Expected.
DIPLOMACY'S EFFORTS VAIN

Briton and German Red Tape Effective.
ly Closes Practically All Commercial
ChanneIs-Americans Who Seek Inn
ports Are Forced to Wait Until Ter
mination of the War;
New YOrk.-The entrance of Italy
into the European war has added great
ly to the embarrassments attending
American commercial relations with
Europe.
These have been growing more seri-
Gus in the last three months. The dis
positions Of both Great Britain and
Germany have been persistently less
and less considerable of the interests of
neutrals, and lately a feeling of dis
gust with all effort to carry ON certain
lines of foreign trade with the CONT
nent has taken possession of some of
the business elements in this country,
much to the regret Of the commercial
agencies Of the government.
Only few days ago Chicago bust
ness man told a story of his own expe-
rience that illustrated this attitude:
II have an order Of $4,000 worth Of
drugs, chemicals, medicines and the
like" he said, bought and paid for in
Germany. If could get the goods into
this country I could easily make $780,
600 profit on them. But between the
German stringencies about exporting
things that they fear may help enemy
countries and the allies restrictions
against commerce getting out Of and
into Germany | have found it useless
to push the matter"
The difficulties that can be thrown in
the way of simple commercial transac-
tons when both Germany and Eng
land show disposition to oppose them
are illustrated by the case of con-
signment of potash which was destin-
ed to an American fertilizer manufac-
turer. This concern, having been for
years in the regular business Of buying
potash from Germany, had a large
credit with the syndicate which con-
trolls the potash production and in
which the German government holds
a control. There was no question about
the payment for the potash, because
the money was already in the syndi-
Gates hands.
The British authorities objected tC
the potash going out on the ground
that they are trying to prevent com
MERGE in general with Germany. But
the particular case was so innocent
that after good deal Of discussion the
British authorities agreed to let this
shipment come out.
Up to this time the Germans seemed
anxious that the deal should be made.
But just so soon as they learned that
Britain had given way Berlin began
to find objections. There must be
absolute assurance that the potash
would be used only for. fertilizer max
| ing. This assurance was given, to-
gether with the promise that the Amer
| lean government authorities would be
responsible for the execution Of the
| pledge. But at this point further con
ditions were imposed. The Germans
wanted inspectors, representing the
| American government, to follow the
| potash to the factories, watch all the
processes and then certify that it had
| been used, oil Of it, for fertilizer.
| This point was at length arranged
| Then it occurred to the Germans that
| they would like to have an inspector
of their own to inspect the American
| government inspector, see that he did
| his inspecting correctly-and half his
! expenses to be paid on this side.
That proved the last straw. The ne
| gotiation was dropped, and there is no
present chance Of that potash getting
| to this side till after the war.
Large movements Of oils, dyes. chem
| icals, drugs, medicines, potash and va
rious other German specialties are held
up now by reason of the attitudes Of
both Germany and Britain. There has
seemed to be little choice between the
two countries so far as concerns their
| insiStence on unreasonable conditions
| for commerce.
The British attitude toward ship
ments Of cotton has been especially de-
moralizing to that trade. Commercial
authorities of this government realize
| that Great Britain is determined at any
hazard to keep cotton out of Germany.
In the effort to do this the whole move
ment Of cotton to the continent has be-
come involved. About twenty-five car
goes of cotton are now held up, accord
| ing to the authorities here, and there is
no knowing what will be the final de-
termination of the whole problem. The
British willingness to take over and
pay for cargoes that are seized does
not give satisfaction from any point of
view, while the delays In getting the
business settled are constantly more
and more annoying.
With the war area being extended by
the appearance Of Italy among the bel
ligerents new complications and diff
culties in the Mediterranean are GER
fofn n0xUp RI tho nroSpnt tho allies