Evening journal., 1916-09-09
CAPITAL AROUSED
By MAIL Hold UP
Lloyd-George Admits Trade
Information Cleaned by
CenSOrS, is Utilized
WILL NOT ALTER THE
BLACKLIST POLICY

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Sept. 9.-Ex-
tension of the British mail censor
ship from its original purpose OF de-
stroying all trade to or from Germany
to the field of providing data for
Great Britain's fight for commercial
supremacy is seen here in admissions
made by David Lloyd George. the
War Secretary, before Parliament,
just received I'm full in ,this coun-
try Lloyd George said;
1t is the practice to communicate
TO other departments concerned any
Information on matters of public in
terest which may be obtained through
the censorship for such use to be
made of it as the particular depart
ment may consider advisable.
The government is perfectly within
its rights in using any information
which comes to it in these conditions
for any public and national purpose"
This statement, made recently in re-
Spouse TO questions by members of the
House of Commons, created stir there.
1t apparently had been censored out of
cable dispatches to the United States.
When asked about the matter last
night, Secretary Lansing said it had
been called to the attention of the
state Department officially, but declined
to make any comment at this time.
More Vigorous Protest.
II is understood, however, that the
department will take a most serious
view Of Lloyd Georges Interpretation Of
the British War Offices power, and win
protest more vigorously than ever
against interference with neutral nails
on the high seas. Although the Amer.
can government has contended strongly
against the wholesale definitions and
seizures Of mail between neutral coun-
tries, as in violation of international
law, SO far there has been no formal
charge that improper use was being
made of information cleaned from
opened neutral correspondence.
Officials here already were vexed at
England's lhng delay in answering the
American censorship note Of May g.
and it is probable that any inquiry
into the new development will express
that feeling. A brief preliminary note
was received July 20, but It was in
conclI;ive.
It is pointed out that the War Min
ister's attitude appears to be I'm fiat
contradiction to that expressed by !
Lord Robert Cecil, Minister Of Trade,
and reiterated emphatically in his
statement August %, saying:
1T cannot be emphasized too
strongly that the general and statis-
teal information extracted from traSa
letters, which has proved so inval-
liable to His Majesty's Government in
the supply of material sent
through neutral TO enemy countries
and supSressing the export of enemy
goods is used for these purposes sole
ly and never for the purpose Of sub
shutting allied trade for neutral"
Got Trade Data.
Lloyd-George's statement arose, not
in connection with enemy trade or inn
ports to neutral countries. but entire
ly in regard to an attempt TO build
up a protective tariff wall for a new
British industry against competition
by importatiOns from neutral coun- /
try.
During the session Of the House |
Andrew Bonat Law had requested a |
two-pound export tax on palm nut /
kernels from British West Africa to |
all places but England. where a new !
industry had been built up to replace !
the lost German markets. During his |
argument he said that information ]
contained in the censored letter OF a /
neutral oleomargarine manufacturer /
indicated that competition would come !
from that source and that the ex-
port tax would be necessary to pre-
serve the industry to the country.
Later a member of Parliament ask
ed Lloyd George whether he was
aware that "when censorship was in
stituted we were told it was def
nitely AMI solely for the object OF
preventing information getting to the I
enemy which would be OF advantage
to them, and that otherwise the
freedom of discussion and the Sc
crecy OF correspondence would not
be infringed." The War Minister re-
piled that he did not know that prin-
ciple was laid down, but that the
government could use any informa-
ton thus secured for any public. ma
tional purpose.
Questions at once flashed from sew
eral parts of the chamber. One mem
Der asked him il it was necessary
ito divulge private letters which the
censor had thought il necessary to
stop" Another wanted to know
ut is the intention of the
to use letters which have
been disclosed i'm the censor's Office
for purpose altogether distinct from
the purpose of the war"
Mr.. Lloyd George replied: "The
function Of the war Office. or at least
OF the officials for whom ! am an
swering is to send along to public
any information which u
comes into its possession by means n
of letters opened in this way. There n
the responsibility OF the war Office
ends"