Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-11

10 the state Of trade with these neutra
countries which may point to a different
conclusion. or show that II Is the actor
Of his majesty's government In particular
and not the existence Of a state OF wal
and consequent diminution Of purchasing
power and shrinking OF trade which Il
responsible for adverse effects upon trade
with the neutral countries.
That the existence Of state OF war
on such q scale has had q very adverse
effect upon certain great Industries. such
as cotton. IL obvious; but It " admitted
that this Is due TO the general cause OF
diminished purchasing power Of such
countries as France. Germany and the
United Kingdom, rather than to inter
ference with trade with neutral coun-
tires. In the matter of cotton, II may
be recalled that the British government
gave special assistance through the Liver
pool cotton exchange 20 the renewal OF
transactions in the cotton trade Of not
only the United Kingdom. but Of many
neutral countries.
Case of Copper.
Your excellencys' note refers in par
tIcular to the detention Of copper. The
figures taken from official returns from
the export OF copper from the United
States 70 rItaly for the months during
the war has been IN progress up 20 the
end OF the first three weeks of Deem
Der. arc as follows:
"Ninteen thirteen. 15,2oe.00o pounds
1914, 30.2s5,oO0 pounds. Norway. Sweden
Denmark and Switzerland. are not shown
separately for the whole period in the
United states returns. but are included
In the heading, Other Europe tthat Il,
Europe other than the United Kingdom,
Russia, France, Belgium. Austria, Ger
many. Holland and italy. Tho corre-
spending figures under this heading are
as follows:
Nineteen thirteen. 7,su,oOo pounds; 1914.
IS, 3f7. 5000 pounds.
with such figures, tho presumption is
very strong that the bulk Of copper con-
signed to these countries has recently
been intended. not for their own US. but
for that OF a belligerent, who cannot inn
port Il direct. II Is therefore, an imper-
alive necessity for the safety OF this eoun-
try. while Il is at war. that his ma
jesty's government should do all In their
power 10 stop such part OF this import
Of copper as is not generally destined for
neutral countries.
Destined for Germany.
your excellency does not quote any
particular shipment Of copper to Sweden
which has been detained. There are,
however. four oonsignments to Sweden
ut the present time Of copper and
which, though definitely con-
signed 10 Sweden, are, according to POSI-
tive evidence in the possession OF his
government definitely destined
for Germany.
II can not believe that with such
figures before them, and In such cases
m those just mentioned. the government
Of the United States would quested car
goes TO a prize court, and we are con-
WINGED that II can not be in accord with
the wish either OF the government or Of
The people OF the United States to strain
the international code In favor OF private
interests 20 as to prevent Great Britain
from taking such legitimate means for
this purpose as are In its power
with regard to the seizure of food
ptuffs. to which your exeellency refers,
his majestys government are prepared 10
admit that foodstuffs could not be de-
tanned and put in TO prize court with
out presumption that they are intended
for the armed force OF the enemy or the
enemys government. We believe that
this rule has been adhered to in practice
but II the United states gov
eminent have instances TO the contrary.
we are prepared to examine them. and
Il is our present intention 10 adhere to
the rule though we can not give an un-
limited and unconditional understanding,
In view OF the departure by those against
whom We are fighting. from hitherto ac-
oepted rules OF civilization and humanity
and the uncertainty as 10 the extent to
which such rules may be violated by them
In the future"