Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-22
WILL TRY TO GET RELIEF
FOR AMERICAN IMPORTERS
State Department Undertakes "to
Bring to Head" Grievancse
of Thousands.
QUESTION FOR GOVERNMENTS
Goods in Neutral Ports OF Europe
Withheld From Shipment to U. s.
by British Orders in Council-To
Send Vigorous Message to Page.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch.l

Especial to Tho Times Dispatchl
WASHINGTON. September 21.-It
was announced by the State Depart
ment to-day that this government has
Undertaken ito bring TO n head" the
grievances Of thousands Of American
Importers whose goods in neutral porte
or Europe are withheld from shipment
here by The British orders In council.
This announcement follows on the
heels OF the revelations that Acting
Secretary Polk, Special Adviser Chand-
Ter Anderson and Solicitor Cone John
son conferred on this subject last night
and decided to send a vigorous mes
sage TO Ambassador Page at London
| Tor presentation to tho British Foreign
Office.
This is the flrst time that the State
Department has admitted it regards tho
question as one for the two govern
iHents. Heretofore IL has been main
tained by the state Department that
the issue was one for the importers
Themselves with the British Board Of
Trade and with any other British In
sttution from which they could get
relief. Severe pressure. however,. was
put on tho State Department yesterday
by cablcgram from London to the
effect that the agents OF the Importers
| 'here regarded the case as hopeless
notwithstanding the various announce
:nentE by the British embassy at
Washington 20 the effect that importers
might Ale arldavits and spplica lions
for relief which in turn, wore to run
the gauntlet Of the authorities in Great
Britain.
PROPOSES TO PUT STOP
TO PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS
1t was also learned to-day that the
state Department proposes TO put a
stop to the private negotiations Of the
agents OF some importers who have
, succeeded in getting some goods
through. while the vast majority of the
Importers have been unable TO obtain
satisfaction either from the British
embassy here or the State Department
! tself II Is known that Ambassador
Page was advised more than two weeks
ago tina, certain former employees of
one OF the bureaus Of the government,
armed with letters Of Introduction from
some one In the state Department and
some one in the British embassy, had
been able to have certain goods re-
leased. This was regarded as strange.
because Ambassador Page had Informed
tho foreign trade advisers bureau Of
'he state Department that Great Brit
ain could not act definitely yet because
she mad TO consult with France Am
| hassador Page was. therefore. informed
that II was remarkable. II Great Brit
ain held such a view, that she had not
made II universally applicable, but. on
the contrary, had Let down the bars in
seine cases Ambassador Page was told
that the proof OF this was in Washing
ton.
Tho statement By Ambassador Page
that Great Britain holds that conces.
sions 20 the importers arc involved in
The order in council forced State De-
artment officials TO the position that.
In order to get these concessions, they
must attack the order in council Itself,
which established the illegal blockade.
These officials say that for this reason
IL may be necessary to precipitate a
diplomatic clash with Great Britain in
advance of the transmission OF the new.
note. the language and arguments of
which are still being digested by vari-
Gus authorities in the State Depart-
ment.
QUESTION LEGALITY OF
BLOCKADE OF NEUTRAL PORTS
1T is almost proper to say" OBJ
served a high official to-day, that the
real position Is. what right has Great
Britain 10 hold American-owned goods
In neutral ports? II we proceed sim
ply TO endeavor to obtain concessions
and actually accept any such accept
ancc might very we'll be regarded as
admitting the general right OF Great
Britain 10 restrain commerce. II we
admit this, Great Britain might very
well permit. say. one-tenth OF the
goods due us on long term contracts
10 get in, and then refuse to permit