The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-26
Action Not Aimed at NeutralS
Ambassador Announces.
PRESIDENT REMAINS MUM
The Policy of This Government
Not Yet Announced.
Two Firms Under Ban Permit
ted to Complete Deals.

| Washington, July 26.-President
Wilson has decided to delay his an
nouncement of the policy of this gov
kernment regarding tie British black
| list.
| Announcement of decision to delay
the promised protest to Great Britain
was made after the cabinet meeting.
Another important development an
nounced by the state department was
that Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the Brit
ish ambassador, had made a partial
explanation of the scope of the black
| list.
The British ambassador informed
the state department.:
| First. that the blacklist is not d.
rected against neutrals, but that its
and credit being used to support the
enemy
Second, that in general there is no
intention The blacklist should affect
| existing contracts
Observers were quick to see a con-
nection between the explanations
made by the British government and
the announced decision to withhold
action. Officials would not admit,
however, that the delay was influenced
| by the British ambassadors exp:ana-
tons, nor would they admit any con-
templated action by the United States
would be influenced by such eXplana-
lions.
| Not Satisfactory.
| On it's face, the assurance by Great
| Britain that its blacklist is not aimed
| at neutrals takes away one of the
gre at grounds for action by the Unit
ed States, but it is certain this gov
| eminent will not accept this assurance
| as fully removing the difficulty, since
there is abundant evidence that the
operation of the blacklist, while it may
not be aimed at neutrals, affects
Americans injuriously.
The assurances given by the British
| amba ssador were in response to two
specific cases brought up by the state
| department.
One related to the refusal of an
Australian firm TO accept a cargo of
| oil from a San Francisco firm, an or
celied by the Australians after the
| cargo was loaded because the selling
| firm was blacklist ed.
The British embassy arranged for
| delivery of this cargo, declaring that
| in general existing contracts should
not be affected.
| The other case raised was one j..
which an American firm doing bust
ness in Great Britain and also having
| transactions with a blacklisted firm.
desired to learn if it, too, would be
blacklisted for its dealings with u
firm under the ban. The British am
bassador gave aseura noes that the act
is not intended to injure neutrals.
Basic Wrong Remains.
The explanations by the British am
bassador, however, do not touch what
| officials believe is the basic wrong of
the blacklist This is the alleged ac-
ton of the British government in or
dering its own ship masters and coerc-
ing neutral ship masters into refusing
cargoes to or from blacklisted firms.
Further evidence has been obtained
as to the working of this oppressive
feature of the boycott. Not only have
neutral ships faced refusal to take on
coal and oil at British ports if they
carried cargoes of biacklisted firms,
exporters have charged, but through
British influences, banking accommo-
dations in neutral countries have
| been refused corporations and firms
| dealing with individuals or firms on
the blacklist
Acting Secretary of State Polk said
| tho state department has taken UP
specific case of particular blacklisted
individuals and firms, but wholly with
out prejudice to any action the United
States may take in opposition to the
principle involved in the blacklist,
| Still Considered Grave.
There was no disposition on the part
sions made by Great Britain in the
particular raised as affecting the main
issue. 1t was stated that the United
States still considers the matter with
grave concern
| There were evidences, however, that
| Great Britain herself realized she has
gone too far in extending the blacklist
to American firms in a manner that is
violative of neutral rights.
| A high official said today:
| "If carried to its logical conclusion,
the blacklist would prevent Great Brit
from
| commerce with the United States if it
attempted to extend the blacklist to
| every firm that had any transactions
| with blacklisted firm