South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-25
Creation of Blacklist is Climax
of Long Series of Viola
tons Against Com
merCe of America.
DETENTION METHODS
AID ENGLISH TRADERS
American Goods Are Held Up
and British Fill Orders,
is Claim - Vigorous
Protest Planned.
international News Service


WASHINGTON, July 25.-Neariy
every existing trade treaty between
Great Britain and the United states
has been violated by that nation in
her assaults upon American com
mercial rights which now has cul
minated in the creation of a black
list of more than so American bus
mess concerns and business men.
State department officials made this
plain today in rejecting the sugges-
lions contained in the cable message
from London that England has a
perfect right to say who her sub
jects shall and shall not trade with.
1t is now plain that the extreme
seriousness of the situation is not
realized in London. The series of
inquiries addressed to the foreign
office on behalf of the United States
by Ambassador Page there have
gone unanswered. And according
TO the statements made TO the de-
partment here by the British ambas-
sador, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, he has
as yet been unable to get any COM
plete information as to the scope of
the British movement.
British Profited.
1t is claimed that the British de-
tention methods have been utilized
to the last to aid British exporters.
Under the guise of 'ascertaining
ownership" large consignments of
goods sent to neutral nations have
been held up in ships detained in
British territorial waters 1t now
is alleged that in many cases while
these were held for investigation
British merchants in similar lines
sent along shipments to fill the or
ders, with the result that the goods
originally shipped were not accepted
by the consignee because of the de-
lay. The loss to Americans from
this source is said TO be very great
and complaining firms have been
directed to send along all data avail
able 10 De incorporated in the COM
ing protest.
1t again was made plain at both
the white house and the state de-
partment today that, while the ad-
ministration is very anxious TO make
it's complete protest without de-
lay, it has been found necessary to
move slowly because Of the inabil-
ity TO force prompt action in fur
nishing the facts from Great Brit
ain. The president has promised
callers that vigorous protest will be
made and that this government viii
insist on all existing trade treaties
being observed under all circum-
stances.
To Press For Action i'm Mail Cases.
Meanwhile this government will
continue TO press for action on the
mail hold-ups at both London and
Paris The mail detention is a very
vital part of the general British
protest and this government has all
along insisted that under no circum-
stances will il consent TO any recOg-
milton Of the rights Of belligerents TO
divert mail carrying vessels into
their territorial waters and then in
sist that they have the right of ex-
animation and conhscation.
In the entire matter of trade in
reference by mail and otherwise.
officials say that this government
has sufficient information available
for a preliminary protest and the
president and his cabinet are being
urged b. senators and commercial
representatives TO send this prelim-
mary demand without delay and
later supplement II when all the
facts are available. This probably
will be done if there is continuation
Of the present delay.