New-York tribune., 1916-07-24
Senators to Cite British
Ban as Showing Need
for Passing Measure.
ASSERT AMERICA
MUST OWN VESSELS
England's Merchant Fleet En-
ables Her to Control Ocean
Commerce, Is Argument.
fFrom Thn Tribune Bureau. ]

washington, July 20. lHe bi'N'S'
blacklist of American firms will be one
of the principal arguments used by
Administration Senators in urging the
McAdoo ship purchase bill in the up
per house, it was predicted tonight.
Some Senator'S who are anxious to sup
port the Administration on this meas
IRE, particularly as the President has
made it clear that he regards the
passage of this bill as imperative to
party success and to the completion
Of its programme of constructive legis-
lation, have been casting about for
satisfactory reason they could give for
change in their views. The blacklist
has furnished all the reason they need
for publication.
During the debate on the ship bill.
which is to come up as soon as the
army bill has been passed. probably
toward the end of this week, there VIII
be many references to the absolute ne
cessity Of America "owning her own
shipping, so that her merchants can do
business without the by your leave
of foreign potentate."
Administration Senator'S point out
that no matter what steps this govern
ment may take, the fact remains that
Great Britain can go on enforcing her
blacklist orders if she likes, because
she controls ocean shipping.
British Ships Necessary.
II is the merchant fleet and not the
navy of Great Britain, they say, which
will accomplish this, and by entirely
peaceful means. Without the use of
British ships American goods, they as
sert, cannot be distributed to the mar
kets Of the world.
The statement of Laming Worthing
Evans, chairman Of the Department OF
Foreign Trade of the British Foreign
Office, published to-day, was received
with amazement in Washington.
"If the British government proceeds
on that line of reasoning" said high
official of the State Department to.
night. cit would regard itself justified
in issuing an order to American hrms
which are not on the blacklist to re-
/ frain from doing business with those
/ which are blacklisted, on penalty o'
| being placed on the blacklist If they DC
not heed the order.
Likewise, on the same theory, Great
! Britain might deem it proper to selzt
/ as contraband of war all goods shlppee
from this country by the blacklistee
| firms. Mr. Evans says that the black
| list is merely piece of domestic legis
] lation which prevents British cltlzen'
! from doing business with certain per
sons.
"What would he say if tomorrow
/ the United States promulgated
! blacklist prohibiting American nrm'
| from doing business with certain Brit
! ish firms because we thought those
/ firms we're more friendly TO some
| other country than the United States
There is absolutely no justification FOL
the British list.
Violates Neutral Rights.
at violates the rights of American
as we'll as other neutral commerce
But | suppose that Great Britain viii
persist in maintaining it. II she does
| the friction which comes is certain &c
result in a most dangerous stuatlon
a situation which can be relieved only
! by her yielding.
! This official resented the assertion
Of other British officials that the black
list was similar to acts of the United
States during the Civil War.
"All the United States did during
the Civil War; he said, "was to pre-
vent persons and firms in the North
from trading with persons and firms
in the South. 1t did not prevent
Northern firms from doing business
with British firms merely on the as
SUMPTION that the latter were more
friendly to the South than to the
| North. In this instance Great Britain
/ is preventing British firms from do
/ ing business with American firms or
/ the assumption that the latter arc
more friendly to the Central Powers
! than to the Allies"