The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-07-29
BRITISH BLACKLIST ORDER RE-
GARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST
SERIOUS PROBLEMS OF WAR

DIM I1Of1 BLAOhLIOI OhDLh I'LL
GARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST
SERIOUS PROBLEMS OF WAR
RETALIATORY MEASURES RECOMMENDED
President Wilson and his Cabinet have
decided to insist that England shall re-
move American firms from her black
list. 1t is probable that sharp protest
will at least result in modification of
the order.
According to Washington reports, the
administration looks upon the recent
British blacklist order as one of the
most serious problems yet presented by
the European war. While no official
declaration has been made, it is claimed
that the blacklist is regarded by the ad
ministration as only another example of
Great Britain's disregard for American
rights where those rights happen to
clash with her war policy.
The simple test applied by Great Brit
ain, before blacklisting firms, is this: Is
that firm, by it's business operations,
strengthening our enemies? If so, then
British firms may not support it.
It is claimed that this rule has been
extended, however, so that it not only
prevents trade between British subjects
and the American firms blacklisted, but
trade between other neutrals and the
blacklisted firms, as we'll as trade be-
tween American firms themselves.
The administration, it is reported, es-
pecially resents the manner in which
Great Britain announced the blacklist to
the world, claiming that the British
government should have given this
country some warning, and permitted
it to make some representations before
the order went into effect Little hope
is entertained that England will recon-
slider it's stand, or rescind the order.
It is quite likely that the British en-
pire will issue, within few days, a
comprehensive statement on the black
list, for publication in the United States.
The firms blacklisted, it is declared,
have offended so repeatedly that there
was nothing left for the British Board
of Trade to do but to direct the British
subjects to have no dealings with them.
1t is maintained that when all the evil
dence is presented to the American state
department, it will appear that the pro-
test, ordered by President Wilson is not
well founded.
F Orders from South American coun-
tries for large quantities of food stuffs,
farming implements, household articles,
and other materials used in domestic
pursuits, have been held up by the ac-
ton of the British government in ex-
tending to this country the blacklist.
Some of the largest foreign trade houses
have instructed their clerks not to accept
any shipments until the British agents
had been asked about the status of the
customers.
American firms included in the black
list claim that the United States govern
ment should make sharp protest.
They are American citizens, they de-
clare, and entitled to protection. They
feel that the order is unjust, and that
there should be absolutely no discrimi
nation.
There is a considerable sentiment in
favor of this government resorting to
retaliatory measures. It will be remem-
bered that Sweden successfully retail
ated when Great Britain blacklisted
Swedish business houses. Her mer-
chants are reported as being especially
active in support of the league of neutral
traders.