New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-21
To Hold Meeting Here in
Secret and Decide
What to Do.
WIRELESS TAPPED
TO GATHER FACTS
Some of Companies Under the
British Ban Feel Pro-
test Useless.

Members of New York firms whose
names appear on the British blacklist,
together with representatives OF hrms
in other cities similarly affected, will
hold a secret meeting here within the
next twenty-four hours to determine
what action, if any, will be taken TO
force the lifting of the boycott. Just
when and where this meeting will be
held Edward Stegeman, jr., the leading
shirt in the movement, would not say
yesterday.
At the meeting, It is expected, the
entire subject Of British boycotts VIII
be taken up, the eighty firms and IN
dividuals on Tuesdays list being only
small percentage Of the number VINO
for months past, it is said, have been
on a secret blacklist maintained by
the British government.
Some of those who were on the
larger list obtained relief through ap-
neals NJ the Merchants Association TO
the State Department and the Brltish
! Embassy. Others who enlisted the aid
of The association were not so fortu-
nate. the British government refusing
10 bulge from the position II mad
taken.
Relief Gained by Some.
What action will be taken by the
Merchants Association propaply WIN
not be determined until r. =. Meaue,
secretary of the association, returns
from Washington, where ne mas Deen
stree before the blacklist was pup
lished, on business OF the organization;
In the cases where the Merchahts
Association obtained relief, the ilrm or
individuals affected were members Oh
the organization and were IN positioh
10 show that the action of the Brush
e,oyernment was not founded upon a
State of facts that would warrant ac-
t;on. In the other cases, the British
maintained that the evidence was clear
and that no relief would be granted.
This evidence, it developed yester-
dav comes in the main from two
soyrces-the tapping of the wireless
messages sent from Tuckerton to GER
many and search of the mails taken
! from neutral ships by the British. Inc
! tapping of the wireless is an easy
| thing. as no code is permitted. Search
of the mails, IL is stated, mas pro-
duced documents showing that under
guise OF trading with neutrals, such
as Sweden, goods were actually sent 10
/ Germany. Because Of this state OF
affairs some of the firms affected by
| the blacklist have refused 70 take any
action in the matter.
Can See Nothing To Do.
nTbo onlv effect of this blacklist so
far as we are concerned SAID the
renresentative of one firm yesterday
"is that instead of only ourselves, our
customers in England and the authorl-
i TICS of England, knowing we were on
the blacklist. the whole world knows
II So far as we can see, there Is
nothing we can do in the matter.
In shipping circles Il was said yes
.erdav that an attempt might be made
~ break the effect of the blacklist by
sending an American ship with goods
from the blacklisted firms 10 a neutral
mort consigned 10 a neutral or 70 an
1 agent of the American owners, but THIS
nronosition was not taken very Sc
! riously. ,,-,;,.,,.
ar would merely be the Dacia and
.be WAGNER cases over again., sald
Mr.. Stegcman, when the matter was
! brooched 70 him. 1.-THE British would
ind some excuse for Selling goods
and nerhaps the ship as well. II the
shin was not seized it probably would
no on its next trip. So, there you are.
Az understood in mercantile circles
yesterday. the action most likely TO De
iaken will be TO send committee made
M Of individuals of whose American
;sn there can be no question TO Wash
ington, to take up the matter with the
State department, leaving those frms
80 admitted German origin, or whose
enact status may not be perfectly clear'
:: ~ background.