New-York tribune., 1916-07-26
Cabinet Decides to
Wait Developments
Before Acting.
GRFAT BRITAIN
LIMITS SCOPE
Ambassador Spring Rice
Denies Intent to Hurt
Neutral Trade.
rFro- me Tnsuns Bureau J

fFrr- Tne Tribune Bureau
Washington, July 25.-The United
States is unlikely TO enter any protest
:. al against the British blacklist.
This fact developed to-day, following
ths Cabinet meeting, which was occu-
MED principally with the subject, and
;ollowinc a call on acting Secretary
Polk BY the British Ambassador, Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice.
Great Britain has given definite
,ssurances. Secretary Polk later an
sounced. that the blacklist was not
aimed at neurtals, but was "to prevent
British capital and British credit from
being used to aid the enemy
No extension of the list TO other
than cases of first instance, or Of firms
found directly aiding Britain's enc
mics. was intended, and no existing
,ortracts Of firms on the present black
lie, were TO be terminated, he said.
Thus. while Secretary Polk was care
nj TO announce the State Department
rsll reserved its full liberty of ac-
Ton" il was intimated the nam
s,onnds for an American protest have
b.sn swept away. The Administration
q, the present will be content TO con-
t,ue its policy of "watchful waiting,
its future course being determined by
the operation Of the blacklist.
That this decision does not interfere
r. all with the determination TO press
the question Of mail seizures TO an
issue wa the assertion of the State De-
partment officials. This will be ham
died separately, and vigorous pro-
test" is being planned.
Britain to Explain Further.
A further explanation of the opera
tions Of the blacklist, it was declared at
the State Department, has been prom
ised BY the British Embassy within the
next few days.
Great Britain's sole object. the am
Z Oassador is understood to have assured
Secretary Polk, was to prevent any
repetition Of Napoleon!c days, when IL
was declared British shoes shod the
feet Of French troops that marched
against Wellington.
The blacklist was not intended IN
any way 10 90 behind either American
or British law in determining the ma
tionality If a firm or corporation. and
the scope of its operation, the ambas-
sador declared, was much misunder-
stood.
Secretary Polk cited the case of an
American firm in England doing bust
ress with one of the blacklisted firms
here. The State Department feared
trade between all such corporations
would be prohibited under the British
ban. II was preparing to protest
against such practice as illegal. The
British Interpretation. however, does
not consider this as aiding the enemy
in the sense of international law.
Existing Contracts Not Affected.
A firm in San Francisco had made
contracts for the delivery Of oils IN
Australia. When the blacklist was an
nounced. this company was included
and the Australians refused 20 accept
delivery of the oil. claiming 1t brought
them within the provisions or tne
trading with the enemy" act. The
Foreign Office has ruled. however. that
existing contracts are not 10 De
terminated by the blacklist. which was
to be one Of ;he main grounds for the
sdministration's protest.
There is still pending. however. the
tsse OF IN American firm, the capital
stock OF which is owned in Germany,
and whose principal customers are I'm
canada. Profits OF this firm, ire
speciive Of its domicile. 20 10 aid
tngland's enemies, and Canadians are
adverse 10 continuing business rela-
lions There are many such cases, II
IS declared. and as the whole question
u collections in Canada is involved in
me issue, the State Department is
handling II with extreme care.
Crisis" Is Believed Past.
Secretary Polk's announcement is in
.erpreted here by those who have been
Vohowng the Administrations diplo-
ma'le negotiations as the passing of
mother crisis" From the experience
"a me German situations and in the
previous arguments with Great Britain
hey have been predicting such a re-
suit As long as the country was
aroused, they assert, the Administra-
aon would talk Of vigorous protests
.he President would be represented as
velhg seriously concerned" Then the
issue would be allowed to be forgotten,
uSe the question Of Germany's apology
yh 'he Lusitana, or the legalization OF
we BRUSH blockade, and nothing
YOU'D be done. Even Austria, they
point out, is allowed 20 ignore Ameri-
lite.
mus these critics Of the A..dinis
nston are predicting the protest on
"a. s.i seizures, over which the Admins
usuon Is now concerned" will 90 the
cay Oh all other controversies with
s'est britain. IL is already more than
year since the issue was raised, and
W lar not the slightest tangible re-