The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-21
STATE DEPARTMENT
To PROBE BLACKLIST
Widespread Demand That Great
Britain BE Called to Account for
Attack on american Trade.
HAS BEEN IN OPERATION
FOR MONTHS Is REPORT
HUNDRED That List Includes Great
Many More Firms Than Published
BY British GoserHment-Other Neu-
trails May Act.

Washington. July 20.-Spurred into
action by widespread protests against
the British blacklist. the United States
today took steps to cali Great Britain
10 account, Developments OF the day
were FIRST Acting Secretary of State
Polk made informal representations
10 the British ambassador seeking in
formation as to the scope and pur-
pose of the trading with the enemy
blacklist
second. the state Department.
rea ched the decision TO forward
protest to the London foreign office
as soon as the British embassy re-
plies 70 the request for information
made today This protest Is expected
to go forward tomorrow or saturday
Third, Chevelier Van Rappard, . the
Netherlands minister. asked the State
Departmental information regarding
this governments course. This is be-
1ieved TO pave the way for renewal
of negotiations for joint action by
neutral governments against British
aggression.
Fourth. hlacklsted firms protested
TO the State Department against the
iTegality of the British governments
discriminatory action,
Congress Preparing to Act.
Fifth congressional leaders prepare
to frame retaliatory legislation in re-
Spouse to the demand for action To
compel abandonment by Great Britain
Of "A policy that threatens widespread
injury to American commerce. In
formation from unofficial sources to-
day indicated that the operation or
the British blacklist Is far more
widespread than is made known in
the published list of eighty odd names
given out by the British government.
There were reports that instead OF
eighty American individuals and firms
there were thousands of Americans
facing loss through the operation of
a commercial blacklist designed to
prevent them from carrying on export
trade
State Department officials said to-
day that they had been officially adj
vsed only of the list of eighty. Sir
Cecil Spring Rice the British ambas-
sador. IT was said today. has informed
the State Department that his Is the
complete American list.
Nevertheless there Is evidence that
the blacklist is far more widespread
than the British government has off,
cially admitted Administration off,
Gals have known for months that
the blacklist was in operation against
American firms. although this had not
been officially proclaimed by Great
Britain, Acting on protests OF firms
who learned by refusal of British ship
masters to take their cargoes that
they were blacklisted. the State De-
partment has induced the British gov
eminent 10 withdraw the names OF
large number of exporting firms
from the list.
Blacklist in Operation.
1t is known that captains OF British
~ ~ -
can blacklist for months and have
utilized 1t in discriminating against
American shippers The admnstra-
ton knows also that captains of neu-
trail vessels have refused cargo space
to blacklisted Americans. So far as is
known, the neutrals have not been or
dered TO refuse shipments on account
OF the blacklist, but through the oper-
atoms Of the system by which the
British emhassy's o. X, has been
necessary before a European cargo
could be moved, the neutrals have
been induced 10 refuse shipments on
the grounds that the nature of the
cargo or the character of the con-
signee made such shipments objec-
tiona bile.
VIII Probe Secret Blacklist.
Just how many more American
firms are on this secret blacklist Is a
fact the United States government lis
determined to learn. II the British
government has hlacklisted Americans
for months by it's absolute control or
shipping without making formal an
nouncement of the fact. the United
States wants to know II.
There was a strong renewal of dis
eassien of the pessihilit. that the
United States should join with other
neutral governments in action de-
signed to halt British sea aggression.
The conference 1t the state Depart