New-York tribune., 1916-07-23
,..American T.. Firm Strength
ening Allies Enemies?
Test Applied.
AMBASSADOR PAGE
BEGINS AN INQUIRY
c.,hers information in London
for Use of the State
Department.

i.,dor, July 22.-Wslter Hines
,,s, American Ambassador. said to-
.,s ,hs. he was fully alive to the pos
,1B,v Of trouble arising from the
.-,hestion Of the statutory blacklist
. American firms. He has already ap-
..,,,hed the Foreign Office with IL
,u;ris: on the subject
II, embassy is collecting all avail
~, Information regarding the matter
4, transmission 20 the State Depart
r,rt
I, -,ply 10 criticisms which the pub
s.,.s. Of the list Of eighty-seven
,-.ns,n individuals and firms with
-. English FIRMS are forbidden to
:. Ausiutss under the Trading with
=. Enemy act. has met with in Amer
=. ard here, Lsming Worthing Evans,
c,i,f o. the Department Of Foreign
-,,s. Of the Foreign Office. made the
sollcving statement to-day;
Tn. statutory list has been com
,3,; from one point Of view only,
,,-.ly. TO prohibit British citizens
ns- supporting firms which are
crsg,hening our enemies. The test
,,,lied before putting q firm domi-
,l.d in America on the statutory list
!, this: Is that firm by its business
o,.rstions strengthening our enemies
Y 50. then British firms may not sup
port it.
Lesson OF World War.
III is one Of the principal lessons
~ N. world war that the strength OF
, s.lliserent does not consist only in
II. resources and supplies availabl.
1. its own territories, but also on
,so. upon which it can draw from
neutral countries. AS result Of the
uni-nilitsry organization which the
German government has imposed on
rs commerce, every German firm
throughout the world is an outpost
seeking 70 do its utmost 10 assist Ger
r,,y in her effort 10 dominate Eu-
rsr, ard the fact that they are es-
asnhed in neutral countries in many
csay makes them more formidable and
teir activities less easy to combat
Tan would otherwise be the case.
"Can it then be said fairly that wher
u. British government is fully awar,
u these activities it should do nothing
% frustrste them? Can il be elaine,
lairly that. instead of endeavoring u
Illustrate them, they should be actual!
lssisted by British firms, British cables
British banks and British shippini
Ines
ut is true that the trade done b.
British firms with German firms il
neutral countries has attained yer!
considerable proportions, and 70 cut OF
this trade by means Of the statutor!
blseklist meant a certain amount o
inevitable loss.
SAYS Sacrifice Is Necessary.
But the government considered tha
n. loss Of British trade would be muci
less than the loss caused 10 the enemy
ard, besides that, the sacrifice involved
is necessary in the interests Of th'
Allies.
1T may be pointed out that long be
fore the British statutory blacklist wal
,gi in operation the French govern
zen, prohibited its nationals from
t,ing any business with any enemy
subject. II can hardly be contendec
that the statutory blacklist is more
on.rous 70 trade than the French sys
ten, which long since was recognized
BY International law.
Moreover, from strictly legal point,
g. view, the blacklist system is piec,
Of purely domestic legislation, which
simply prohibits British subjects from
o.sling with certain persons. The righ'
q any government TO impose such pro
hibi,ion on its own nationals is hardly
open 10 dispute.
objection has been taken TO the un
pleasant publicity given the list, bu
without such publicity far more dam
az. would be likely TO result to trade
Before the adoption of the statutory
blacklist there was an unofficial black
rs; IN existence. Experience has showT
Nat uncertainty on the part Of bott
bntish and neutral traders as TO wht