The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-28
BRITISH GOVERNMENT PUTS Up
NEW PROPOSITION
Can ship TO NEUTRALS
Limited Supply VIII be Allowed Into
Neutral Countries-Cotton Propa-
gandists Work for Reprisal-Wii-
SON Against Combining Congress
Adanson Praises President.

among producers such cotton trade
as Great Britain and her allies per-
NIT Americans to carry on with neu-
tral countries without interference on
the high seas
Any arrangement of this kind
would have to be made directly be-
tween the British government and the
cotton interests without participation
or approval by the state department.
Officials point out that to acceoe
to any restrictions On trade between
neutral countries in non-contra band
would mean abandonment Of the
principle of freedom of the seas laid
down in various notes to Great Brl-
tain and to be stated with greater in
sistence in another communication
now in preparation.
It has been suggested that pending
differences between the two countries
American officials might aid the cot
ton shippers and exports Informally
in any effort they might make to Ia
: cilitate their trade.
It was announced recently that
Great Britain would be willing to en-
ter into an agreement not to Interfere
with cotton cargoes for neutral coun-
tries crowded no more were shipped
to each country than the normal
amount consumed there.
The cotton propaganda seems to
be led by Senator Hoke Smith Of
Georgia and Senator Bankhead OF
Alabama. For several weeks these
gentlemen, with other Southern poll
ticians, have exerted their influence
toward bringing about an adjustment
OF the controversy with Great Bri-
tain regarding shipments Of cotton.
The matter is also engaging the
attention OF the British foreign Of
fee and the American state depart
ment, and will of a certainty figure
prominently in the protest which the
United States will send to London as
soon as the issue with Germany has
been finally adjusted.
It is the contention of the cotton
propagandists, who are urging a spe-
cial session of congress to pass in re-
prisal bill placing an embargo on
munitions shipments to the allied ma
tions at war with the Teutonlc allies,
that continuance of the policy OF
The British government will result in
widespread disaster to the commerce
OF the cotton producing states.
The nsinuation is made 5y the
champions of the cotton belt that il
is the purpose of the British govern
ment to establish minimum rate
for cotton-probably ten cents a
pound-and to permit English brok-
ers. to resell it to England's allies and
neutral nations at an excess lnsurlns
handsome profit to the London and
Liverpool middlemen. Such posi-
bility is considered impossible, as it
would seriously reflect upon the hon
or of the British government and en-
courage hostility toward it in this
country.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British
ambassador, while having no official
informs ton to impart on the subject.
is known to be directing his diplo-
matte skill toward the promotion OF
some agreement with the American
government calculated to insure ex-
act justice both to the cotton pro-
ducers of this country and to the
consumers in his own and in the neu-
trail countries Of Europe.
It is understood that the British
: government is working toward such
an end, based upon the adoption o.
minimum price for American cot
: ton and guarantee of the sales of ar
average monthly amount so as to ex.
pand the demand for it to maxi
mum volume of shipments.
The chief obstacle in the way o.
the consumnlation Of such a plan
seems to be the inability of the Brit
isl government to establish a policy
that VIII effectively cut o. Germany
from obtaining any share Of these
shipments to neutral countries.
The suggestion that there may be a
special session Of the American con-
gress to declare an embargo on the
shipment of munitions has manifest
~ made a profound impression in
& london, and will, it is believed, exer-
else controlling influence in the
! speedy adjustment Of the controversy
regarding exports Of this, character
from the United States to all coun-
tries except those allied with Ger
many.
The British authorities believe that
they have some justification for tbs
conviction that the agitation in the
cotton producing section of this coun-
Try is really being promoted by a
group Of speculators, who are actu-
ated by the double purpose Of empha-
sizing their sympathy for German in
terests and to obtain profit. This
Sc i,Iionort1yy roo,,Siofo5 r
by the American politicians who have
been most active in the propaganda
against Great Britain.
The beef interests have been al
most as industrious in urging the
United States to some form of retalia-
ton against Great Britain for the
seizure of cargoes of meat and other
food products to neutral European
ports.
United States Minister Ira Nelson
Morris, who is in Washington on
leave from his post at St ckholm, is
credited with taking prominent
part in the efforts Of the beef COM
bine to compel the British govern
ment to permit meat shipments to &c
forward to their destination without
hindrance.
Mr.. Morris is Of a family that
achieved great celebrity and profit in
the packing line. He was at the
state department recently with Sen
ator. J. Hamilton Lewis Of Illinois.
but denied that he had broached the
subject nearest the hearts and pock-
etbooks of the packers.
The only informati regarding the
call of Mr. Morris was that it related
to the handling of cotton imports Of
the United States into Scandinavian
countries.
Disclosures before the British prize
courts regarding the character and
probable destination of imports Of
this character tend to confirm in
measure the claim Of the British gov
ernment that they were really intend
ed for Germany and that concealed