New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-04
Cordial Relations with
Allies Endangered, Say
Leading Papers.
MARSEILLES GAINS
AT GENOA'S EXPENSE
Many Factories Reported To Be
Closed for Lack of Raw
Materials.
rBy Cable to Tn, Tnbun, J


Rome, Jan. 3.--During the last few
days the irritation that for some time
has been smouldering in Italy against
/ the restrictions Of Italian commerce
imposed by the Allies has come 70 a
head, and at the present time II is
difficult to get Italian public men to
talk on any other subject
The papers have taken up the mat
ter keenly. The "Giornale dItalia"
publishes three-column article from
its correspondent at Genoa describing
the loss which is being inflicted on
the trade of the port by the holding
up OF shipping and the confiscation OF
conditional contraband at Gibraltar
and Toulon. A strong feeling of irri-
tation exists beyond doubt, and it
needs to be thoroughly appreciated in
England if it is not TO endanger the
cordial relations between the two
countries
Italians cannot see why, because
England and France are at war with
Germany. they should deliberately
cripple Italian commerce by holding up
Italian ships for indefinite periods at a
heavy loss to Italian business men.
The "Tribuna" said the other day
that complaints of Italian ship owners
merchants and industrialists at the in
discreet and vexatious way in which
English and French warships were ex-
ercising the right of search among
Italian merchant ships bound for ltal-
ian ports from neutral countries were
becoming increasingly strong.
eve are truly sorry TO have TO say
clearly" adds the "Tribuna," "that
such action is producing no small
amount of discomfort. which may have
consequences that the governments OIL
France and England and their repre-
sentatives in Italy will not be able to
ignore. We are ready to believe that
the excess of activity displayed in the
Mediterranean by British and French
warships in abuse, rather than use. OF
the right of search among our mer-
camille shipping arises from Jealous
commanders Of these warships, who
forget that famous precept Of Talley-
rand, who always recommended, above
all, not too much zeal"
The Foreign Office has taken up the
nd - a
way may be found to carry out the
legitimate precautions of the Allies
without penalizing Italian commerc /;
and causing trade 10 be DETECTED from
Genoa to Marseilles, as it is declared
is happening now.
The "Tribuna" speaks of excess Of
zeal on the part of British and French
commanders as being cause of trouble,
but il appears that the regulations un-
der which they act also are subject
Of complaint. The British order in
council of October 20 declared that
conditional contraband would be sub
iect to capture on board a neutral ship
directed to a neutral port if the goods
were so consigned as not to make 1t
evident who was the ultimate con-
signee or if they were consigned TO
in a country occupied by an enemy.
As the great bulk of sea-borne goods
are so consigned that they fall within
the terms of this order, the result has
been that a vast amount of merchan-
disc destined for Italian ports and
Italian consumption has been held up
at Gibraltar and Toulon.
The "Giornale d'Italias" Genoa cor
rCsDondPut writes:
at is easy TO imagine 20 what an
noyance our ships are being put to be
taken TO Gibraltar and forced to dis
embark their cargo without any re-
gard either TO loss of time or extra
cost entailed. A great mass of cop
per destined for Italian works lies on
the wharves Of Gibraltar and many OF
our factories have been forced 70 close
for want of raw material. A great
quantity of mineral oil also is lying
at Gibraltar or Toulon on account OF
the way the goods were consigned.
"The same thing has happened IN
| the case of cotton and many other
| kinds of merchandise. An enormous
number of ships is detained at Tou-
| Ion and Marseilles waiting for per-
mission to proceed, among them some
charged with goods destined for Italy
/ The correspondent declares that IT
/ is the imperative duty of the Italian
/ Government to declare that the high
wav of the sea shall remain open and
that Italian commerce shall not be