The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-12
PROTEST TO GREAT BRITAIN.
Because Red Cross Supplies Shipments to
Germany are Refused.

Washington, ID. c.. May l2-The Amer
lean government is preparing to protest
to Great Britain against its policy OF re,
fusing to allow the shipment of hospital
supplies by the American Red Cross to
Germany aud her allies. Secretary Ians'
| ing received a letter yesterday from for-
mer President Taft, chairman of the cen.
tral committee of the Red Cross, urging
such action and it was learned last night
that the matter would be taken up with
the British government in the near fu:
| ture.
MIR. Tafts letter revealed for the first
time that Great Britain formally had
declined to issue permits for shipments
of supplies to the central powers except
when intended for American hospital
units. This exception, Mr.. Taft wrote,
was worthless because on account of lack
no units in the belligerent countries since
last October.
The Red Cross regards the attitude OF
the British government as in violation
of the Geneva convention, to which the
United States and all the present bel
ligerents are signatories, and holds that
the American government has the right
TO insist on observance of the treaty,
Mr.. Taft expressed the hope that the
British position was based on an er-
roneous belief that the central powers
had failed to agree to reciprocal
course in the treatment of articles Tor
the sick and wounded.
"Since the beginning OF the present
a IntA Ro,Ii
Cross hos invited contributions of money
and supplies with which to aid the
wounded and suffering of all the bellig- |
erents. We have shipped to the Red Cross
societies of each belligerent hospital sup
plies contributed to us for that purpose.
We have found no difficulty in sending /
such articles to the entente allies. We
have had to obtain permits from Great
Britain for the shipments to the Red
Cross of the central powers. Until sep
.ember, 1915. there was substantially no
lelay in the granting of these permits
by Great Britain. Since that time we
hem, and the supplies donated in kind
md designated for the use of the central
powers have accumulated in our ware
louse in Brooklyn. A permit was grant
d for only one shipment since that time
lin January of this year.
Through your department we are now
n receipt OF communication from the I
British government announcing that 1T
oes not intend to permit any further
hipment, unless ii is shipment to our |
wn hospital units in territory OF the (
entral powers. This exception amounts
o no concession for the reason that as [
he British government was advised in /
august last, after the first Of October, c
or lack of funds, we were able to main.
ain no hospital units in any of the bel f
gerent countries. {
"The authorities of the American Red t
ross believe that under the Geneva con- Y
ention, to which the United States and +
Il the belligerent powers are signatories, |,
ne United States has the treaty right / I
, insist that articles serving exclusively II
, the sick and wounded in the form Of b
ospital supplies, shipped by the Ameri. \
IN Red Cross to the Red Cross OF the e
,ntral powers, shall not be declared con- b
aband but shall be allowed safe con- ri
act to their destination" il