New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-02
WORSE THAN THE BLACKLIST
The British Requirement That Embassy
Shall Pass All Shipments.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | should like to call your attention
to practice which, as it affects all export
ers. is more far-reaching than the blacklist,
ramely, the restrictions imposed on Amer
lean commerce by reason of the refusal OF
steamship companies to accept shipments
from American exporters unless each ship
ment is accompanied by letter of assur-
ance from the Trade Department OF the
British Embassy.
On July "a you published a news article
which pointed out some of the dangers of
this practice but the article did not show
how serious the conditions are, and accord
ingly this letter is written 10 bring the
whole situation before you and your readers.
The British Embassy, for the avowed pur-
pose of serving the convenience of American
shippers, announced that upon application 1t
would look into each proposed shipment and
in nroner cases grant a so-called letter Of
assurance" stating that there was no objec-
ton on the part of the British government
to the proper consignment. The practice has
so far engrafted itself upon the American
export business that at the present time no
steamship company will accept an export
shipment from this country to the Scandi-
navian countries unless it is accompanied by
such letter.
This system instead of being benefit has
proved to be menace. Exporters cannot
tell in advance whether they will get letter
Of assurance. They know that no steamship
company will take the shipment without such
a letter; they know that such letter may
be issued within week, month, two
months. or may not be issued at all
Anart from the fact that it is extremely
kumiliatng for an American exporter TO
have to apply TO the British government for
permission to ship goods, the position OF the
American exporter is very anxious one
He does not know what orders to give the
manufacturers or what orders to take Tor
shipments, for he cannot tell IN advance
whether letter Of assurance will be issued
or not. Letters of assurance are delayed
and sometimes refused though goods are on
,he embargo list of the Scandinavian coun-
tries. In articles with fuctuating markets
and many of the articles exported are such
the danger and inconvenience are greatly
magniied.
Cases have been called to the attention OF
the writer where letters OF assurance were
issued ten weeks after application was made.
The situation has grown steadily worse
At first American exporters were invited 70
bear the cable expense of investigating the
shipments under consideration; now they are
required to bear such expense. Up to few
weeks ago one of the scandinavian lines TOOK
shipments without requiring letter Of as
surance, but relying upon guarantee from
the consignee Even that practice has been
discontinued. Now no shipment is taken
unless accompanied by a letter Of assurance
Nor does it seem that the system is con-
Quoted even without discrimination. Thus
we have it on the authority OF the Anglo
Norwegian Trade Journal" published in
London, that the British government would
consider applications for the granting Of
general licenses to British exporters to ex-
port cotton piece goods and other manu-
features of cotton to Norway-s licenses
to last for three months. No such general
license is available in this country.
The practice of issuing letters Of assur-
arce. as it has worked out enables the Brit
ish government TO place real embargo upon
any class of American merchandise destined
for the scandinavian countries by refusing
to issue letters Of assurance covering ship
ments of that class of merchandise. In this
way the English export trade can readily
be fostered at the expense of the American
export trade.
II the American exporter can get his goods
upon the water, it may be that they may be
subject to search, seizure and delay, though
it is Fashionable how far the English prize