Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-27
FOR MODIFICATION
OF BRITISH BLOCKADE
Representatives of 1000 American
Importers Make Urgent Appeal
to- Lansing.
THEIR BUSINESS IN JEOPARDY
Secretary Of State Expresses Deter
mination to Do All in His Power
in Securing Rights to Which They
Are Entitled.

WASHINGTON. June 26.-Pressure of
n formal and organized character was
eNerted to-day on tho United States
government TO secure from Great Brit
ain modification OF the embargo on
all commercial intercourse between
Germany and neutral countries
Twenty members Of committee ap-
pointed by more than 1000 American
importers laid before Secretary Lansing
and other State Department officials a
petition setting forth that Great Brit
ain has studIously avoided answering
the American note of March 30; that
in the meantime valuable time has been
lost in preparing for future business
and that the general effect had been
harmful to the long established trado
Of this country"
The importers pleaded for ian unin-
terruptcd supply OF American owned
merchandise. whether the same has
been paid for, contracted for or may be
contracted for" and the unrestricted
right to ship noncontraband goods
through neutral countries to or from
Germany
EFFECT NOT APPARENT
FOR SEVERAL DAYS
not be apparent for several DAYS.
Secretary Lansing took the facts
presented by the importers under con-
sideration, and will communicate with
President Wilson. 1t has already been
announced that the State Department
Tor many weeks has been preparing
further representations to Great Brit
am asking for II modification of tho
so-called blockade. The President, how
ever, has been unwilling to compllcate
the situation while the delicate nero-
tiations with Germany were in progress.
There has been an insistenc I'm many
quarters that note should be sent to
Great Britain simultaneously with the
German negotiations to emphasize the
intention of the United States to defend
neutral rights whether violated by the
allies or Germany. Mr.. Wilson has told
friends that he has been on both sides
OF the question of sending n note to
Great Britain at this time, but 1t Is
known he finally resolved to wait for
the German answer to the last note con-
corning submarine warfare. He did not
wish. it is understood, to give the an
pearance abroad that the United States
would bargain by negotiation with Eng
land on the blockade question for con-
ccsSionS by Germany demanded 40 q
result of the sinking OF the Lusitania
Reparation for the loss of more than
100 American lives, the President has
held. must constitute separate and
distinct issue
MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF INVITATION DY u. 6.
lt is thought certain in diplomatic
quarters here that Germany will in her
next note take advantage of the in
Vitation of the United States to submit
suggestions for Il modus vivendi to the
allies. whereby submarine warfare
might he abandoned, if the so-called
blockade of commerce through neutral
countries were dropped and restrictions
removed on the shipment of foodstuffs
Before n note is sent. however, COW
cring all the phases of the order In
council, 1t Is considered possible that
the statement of tho American i'm
porters will be transmitted to Ambas-
sador Page for presentation to the Brit
ish Foreign Office. in order that Great
Britain may appreciate the growing
unrest of American merchants The
importers petition follows the argu-
Continued on Second Page)