The sun., 1916-01-13
DENY BRITAIN SEEKS
U.S.. TRADE SECRETS
Big Copper Concerns Say Great
Demand for Metal Makes
Report Ridiculous.
ONLY GERMANS WATCHED

Reports that Great Britain was de-
manding the trade secrets of American
corporations, lists OF their shareholders
and their nationality. together with the
number OF shares held and the concerns
with which the companies are doing busi-
ness. were generally discredited IN hnan-
cial circles yesterday.
Inquiry at the offices of the big copper
concerns. such as the American smelling
and Refining Company, the Anacon1a
Copper Company. the Tennessee Copper
Company and Phelps Dodge a. Co..
failed to reveal that any OF these con-
Germs had been subject to any induisition
by the British Government or any OF its
agents None OF these concerns has In
any way been hindered I'm the operation
Of its business by the British Govern
ment and their representatives say mat
in view Of the tremendous demand for
metal by the Allies II is ridiculous to
suppose that such an occurrence would
take place.
Certain leading copper men say. how
ever. that there is n movement on foot
by the British Government to smoke out
certain copper Arms In America which
have important German connections and
which. whenever possible. are shipping
copper to Germany through neutral coun-
tries. These concerns are said to be COM
trolled by German interests. and the re-
ported campaign against them Is said To
be a part OF the trade war recently IN
augurated by Great Britain against Ger
man business the world over
According to q representative Of big
copper company. the entire matter goes
back to period more than year ago
when several large consignments of cop
per on the way from this country to Ger
many we're seized by Great Britain.
Practically all Of the copper concerns In
the United States were affected by this
seizure and they banded together. en-
gaging the services Of John Rassett
Moore to represent them. After negotia-
tions had been going on for some time
the British Government appointed Henry
r. Merton e. Co. Ltd. of London to
act as an adjuster and in an advisory
capacity to the Government Through
this firm the matter was settled. but
when Great Britain began to take ac-
count of the settlement, according TO
THE SUNS Informant. II was learned
that Henry r. Merton x Co. had profted
more than the Government.
London and New York papers were
full OF conjectures about the matter for
time and the members Of Henry r.
Merton a Co FASTENED to take the oath
OF allegiance to Great Britain and 20 as
sure the Government that their sympa-
thies we're all with the Allies Never
theless II became known about that
| time that many Of the big stockholders
! OF the company were prominent Ger.
| mans.
Copper men In this city now say that
! the British Government is about to bring
! pressure 10 bear on the American Metals
! Company. Ltd. Beer, Sondheimer IL Co.
/ Inc, and l.. Nogelstein & Co, all OF New
I York. owing TO belief on the part oi
! British agents that these concerns are
| German controlled and that they are
! aiding Germany by shipments Of copper
whenever possible. These three concerns
| yesterday denied that they knew an!
such movement was on FOO, or that theS
were making shipments TO Germany OF
| Contrahapd of war.
a review OF the trade manuals how
/ ever. demonstrates that all have i'm
| por,ant German connections. The
| American Metals Company. Ltd be-
sides acting as the American agent
/ for Henry r. Merton & Co. Ltd. Of Lon
I don is also agent for the Meta.legcSell
schaft und Metallurgesche Gesellschaf
/ Of Frankfu-t-a Main. The officers ARE
/ II. Hochschild. president; &. VI Loeb. mrs
! yice-president Richard Merton. secont
/ vice-president julius Goldman. sccre
tary, and Theodore Sterufeld, treasurer
Beer, Soudhcim.r q Co is "A Germai
concern with its main offices In Frank
furt-am-Main. The New York man
ayers are Beuno Elkan and otto FROM
knccht.
Aron Hirsch of Berlin. Germany, is
special partner Of l.. Nocelstc.u ~ 60