Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-23
AT WORK ON AGREEMENT TO
HANDLE COTTON EXPORTS
Formation OF Grent American Pool
Proposed Informally to state,
Department.

WASHINGTON, July 22.-Formation
OF great American cotton pool to
handle exports to Europe under an
agreement with tho British govern
inent has been proposed informally to
the state Department as means of
'eduitably distributing among the pro-
ouaers such cotton trade as Great Bri-
tain and her allies permit to BIO car
rieo on with neutrals. Any arrange
'"en' or this kind would have 20 be
''"'e directly between the British gov
o,t i ' ana the cotton interests. with
| CO.. go, Hcipatlon or approval of the
49, Department. OfHclals point out
unnr a .r.S to any restrictions
upon trade between neutral countries
IN noncontraband would mean .hanN
uonment or the principle OF freedom
OF the seas laid down in notes IN Great
nIl.ath ana about to be stated with
greater insistence in anotber co,,,,
| cation now In preparation.
IL mas been suggested. however tho,
pehd'ns settlement Of the differences
between the two governments. Ameri.
| can ofhcials might informally aid tho
cotton shippers and eXporters in nv
| arrangement they might make to fa,
cihtate their trade. 1t was announced
recently that Great Britain would hn
wiling TO enter into an agreement
not 70 interfere with cargocs of cot
, ton for neutral countries. providod ~,
more was shipped to each country thar
the normal amount consumed there
| me British embassy here has been
| active IN negotiating for an agree
nent which would relieve the cotton
trade and embassy of1cials express
confidence that some practical scheme
VIII be worked out
ADVOCATES PURCHASE
OF AMERICAN COTTON
! LONDON. July 23.-Advocatins pur.
Shase by the British government fYom
| Southern cotton exchanges OF IN.
amount that normally would have gone
10 Germany" and Austria Hungary at
an outlay OF $50. 300. 900, and also o:
american cotton exports to Holland,
denmark, Norway, Sweden and swift
err eniaha. representing another $4,000
| 900, at the same time declaring cot
| ton absolute contraband. the Times de-
ciares that such solution would be
! acceptable in the United States, and
| would remove 4 serious cause of fr!c-
! ton.
| Along our present lines" the Times
continues. we arc heading straight
| for sharp difference Of opinion with
the citizens and government OF the
| United States. Such disturbance OF
American sentiment cannot be to our
/ interest. II means that the United
States may be hampered and weakened
In dealing with other Issues from other
| quarters II means, while the war
lasts. an accom- pa niment OF diplomatic
| friction. and when the war Is ended
! an aftermath Of resentment and the
| presentation Of great bill for dam
! ages.
! I'VE should then be In a position to
! deal with all shipments OF cotton TO
| neutral ports adjacent to Germany by
| means Of the highly effective precet
| dents established by the Americans
! themselves during the Civil War Hav-
! ing acted ourselves with businesslike
! generosity we should expect and re-
J ceive similar treatment in return
! 1t must be understood, however, the
| Times adds. that the cotton 80 pur-
| chased must be stored by the British
! government until the end OF the war.
| The South II says, inevitably would In
! sst on this stipulation. because If the
cotton were resold to British spinners.
! Southern planters would gain moth
| ing. 1t must be additional to, and not
| instead OF orders placed In the Sonth-
| ern States by British manufacturers
| ITO declare cotton contraband. how
! ever" the Times concludes, lis to con-
! TESS that the order in council of last
| March has failed OF It's purpose. But
we could do nothing more appealing TO
| the best American opinion than 10
! rescind that order and rely on the lists
| of contraband and the recognized doc
trine of continuous voyage as our
weapons in the economic warfare on