Evening journal., 1915-09-21
AMERICAN IMPORTERS
plead FOR RELIEF
Declare Hold-Up of Ship
mentS by Britain is
Intolerable
WANT ACTION BY
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-An urg-
ent cablegram has been received at
the State Department from the agents
Of American importers at London
stating that the situation between the
importers and the British Government
has become intolerable. The agents
Of the importers who have been deal
ns ia VAIN with the British Board OF
Trade and other English authorities,
in their efforts TO get Americana own
cd goods out OF Europe insist on
prompt action by this Government
Acting Secretary OF State Polk. Spe-
cial Adviser Chandler Anderson aud
Solicitor Cone johnson went into con-
fefence hurriedly on receipt OF the
cablegram, and IL was understood a
message was being prepared to be
sent 10 Ambassador Page for prescn-
taiion to the British Foreign Office.
Representative Of the Chicago
packers whose cargoes were recently
taken oyer by the British Prize Court
will appear before the department to-
day. They are to ask what this Gov
ernment proposes to do about the
coniiscation Of their property by
/ Great Britain.
State Department officials have
been informed that few importers
are getting goods through. while the
majority fail to realize on the prom.
/ ises OF Great Britain This has been
protested against vigorously 10 AM
! bassador Page and no explanation
has so far been received from British
/ authorities.
The British Embassy. II Is under
stood. is again to notify the foreign
trade advisers of the State Depart
ment that it viii receive "applica.
tions of the importers" for relief Am
bassador Page has made several re.
! ports to the State Department that
Great Britain would grant relief. but
4 this government appears to get no Off
4 cial communication from the Brit
ish government which is eitscr con
elusive or satisfactory.
The dilatory tactics OF Great Brit
ain have been so effective that Il is
stated today applications actually filed
flor some time have not yet been acted
upon by the British government or the
! British Board of Trade
The main issue between the United
States and Great Britain on the pack.
ers' case is that the English courts
hold that British vessels can seize
goods. and that the obligation rests
on the owners Of the goods to prove
beyond reasonable doubt that their
destination is beyond suspicion. In
other words, Great Britain may seize
a vessel and cargo and place the bur
den of proof" of innocence on the
American owners. One of the officials
who is familiar with the draft of thu
new note said on this point:
In the very first cases OF seizur
7 which developed. this Government
= told the British Foreign Office tina
. the burden of proof did not rest oi
, the United States We have no
changed our opinion and Great Brit
| ain, with or without a new note
knows that Our protest to Grea
= Britain in the case of the John D
Rockefeller and other vessels eX
plicitly contended that mere suspicion
would not do. and. so far as / car
see. the action of Great Britain Will
reference to the packers and the con
fiscation Of S15.O0O.000 worth Of thei
goods Is based on the fimsiest kind o
| suspicion alone.
LAS matter Of fact. the diplomats
conflicts with Great Britain are IRE
conciliable. Great Britain has toll
/ us in just so many words that W
cannot deal with her automatically II
I the packers cases. Her action force
tho packers, therefore, to 90 from on