Evening journal., 1916-10-09
ALLIES WON'T HURT
US. TRADESAYS Cecil
Entente Countries Have
Much TO Lose by Injuring
America Commercially
WILL RESPECT
ALL NEUTRALS

LONDON. Oct 9.-The comment In
The United States concerning the pos
sible effect of the commercial meas
ures contemplated by the recent Paris
economic conference of the Entente
Allies has led Lord Robert Cecil. Min
lister Of War Trade to declare that
wholly wrong conclusions had been
drawn from them. especially those
conclusions attributing any attempt
10 exclude or discriminate against the
trade of the United States with the
Entente Allies after the war
Our relations with the new world
will always be Of Vast importance to
us" Lord Robert said. and they take
leading place in our plans. In ans
wor to the great caumny so often
circulated. and which we Indignantly
repudiate. | want to say that while
we are planning our measures fo-
peace now, we pledge our honor thai
those plans and measures. which We
are bound 10 take against the neutral
trader with our enemies under the
laws of war have been. and will be
kept entirely separate.
They are worked out in different
departments They are wholly dis
tinct We shall never try. what We
know would he fatal 70 our own in
terests. 10 use any Of our belligerent
measures to enable us 10 replace neu
trail by British trade or stifle or i'm
pede the commercial enterprise o
neutral nations.
What one OF the districts devas-
tatod during the war would wish TO
lose the opportunity to take advantage
of American enterprise and capital
asked Lord Robert Suppose. for
instance. no question Of friendship
were involved. Then il resolves
itself into a question Of plain com
nonsense business"
Articles in American newspapers
that had been called to his attention
said Lord Robert. seemed 10 take the
ground that if the Paris measures
were carried out they would dlscrim-
mate against all non Entente allied
trade. and either would force the
United States into preferential trade
relations with Germany or into trou-
bic with Great Britain.
All these forecasts" said the Min
lister of War Trade. ARE examples Of
the inveterate tendency to draw cur
ious implications out Of perfectly sim
pie provisions. The provision as TO
the preservation Of neutral resources
during the period Of reconstruction
amounts to a provision that those
among the Allies who have suffered
worst from the war will have the first
call on the resources Of those who
are richest and have suffered least.
In practice, this means that Belgium.
northern France, Poland and Serbia
will have the first call on British cap
ital. which has been the main inan-
cial strength Of the Allies and provid-
ed many Of them with arms. ammuni-
ton and food and which shall con-
tnue TO be a. their disposal in the
work of reconstruction.
And set Americans. who have been
disposed in the past 10 question the
efforts Of Great Britain in this war.
actually now throw this pledge which
she has given her allies in her teeth.
Replying TO the recent statement Of
Premier Eammarksiold. Of Sweden,
that Great Britain is arbitrarily lin
ting the imports in Sweden. Lord
Robert said that Great Britain always
has been. and now is. ready 10 enter
into fresh negotiations for a trade
agreement with Sweden. in which
case allowances would he made for
all Of Sweden's requirements.
The Minister OF War Trade de-
clared. incidentally. that the British
blacklist violates no rule or law OF
equity.