The Washington herald., 1915-08-31
BRITAIN PARTLY
LIFTS TRADE BAN
Large Shipments of German
Goods Will Come to
United States.
TOYS PART OF CARGOES
Orders-in-Council Modified - Goods
Contracted for Before March 2
Will Be Delivered.
TOYS PART OF CARGOES

Great Britain has given assurances to
the United States that a large quantity
of goods OF German and Austrian manu-
facturers contracted for by American
! importers prior to March 2, when the
British orders became effect
i've. soon will be released for shipment
to this country. Most of these goods.
said to be valued at several million dol
lars, and made up of chemicals, phar-
maceutical articles and Christmas, toys,
lie on the docks at Rotterdam.
Whether the concession about to be
made by Great Britain will apply only
to the goods at Rotterdam or be extend
ed to goods contracted for that are still
at the factory is not definitely known.
The concession thus promised by Great
Britain will be a great relief to Ameri-
can importing houses The consignments
In question are in the main articles that
are urgently needed in the United States.
For example, It is stated that great
quantities of German toys are involved.
and that failure of delivery OF such ship
ments would seriously AFFECT the holiday
trade of many merchants.
The action of Great Britain is regarded
as significant. 1t is taken as evidence
that Great Britain is anxious to placate
commercial interests in the United States
and is prepared to 20 a considerable dis
tance in making concessions from the
orders in council. This action by Great
Britain is viewed here as favorable IN
dication of the attitude of Great Britain
toward the general question of British
interference with American trade which
is about to he threshed out in diplomatic
correspondence.
Spring-Ricc Conveys News.
The fact that Great Britain has de-
cided to lift the blockade to the extent
indicated was communicated to the
State Department by Sir Cecil Spring
Rice. the British Ambassador.
Ambassador Spring-Rice's communica-
ton is the result of representations made
by the Secretary of State. 1t was
brought to the attention of the depart
ment that special attorneys represent
ing brokers in the United States had
effected the release of about seGOcO
worth Of goods upon the presentation
of evidence that contracts were made for
went into effect.
Previously the British authorities had
declined to enter into informal nesotia-
tions with the trade advisers of the de-
partment In any cases involving ship
ments suspended incident to the block
ade When this government learned
that private interests had been success
full in having such goods released the
matter was taken up with London.
A statement was issued at the British
Embassy yesterday in which the an
was made that Great Britain
is not responsible for delays in the ship
ment of chemicals as alleged by German
agents. The statement follows:
April u a formal notice was issued
by the British government that they
would allow vessels carrying two ship
ments of dyestuffs, which were paid for
by delivery in Germany of certain cot
ton cargoes, to pass without interfer-
ence provided the vessel sailed under a
neutral flag; that the shipments We're
made from Rotterdam. and the dye
stuffs consigned to the Secretary of Com
merce for distribution to the textile in
dustry. This offer, which was refused
by Germans, still holds good