Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-25
American Tradesmen De
clare Test Unlawful, In
consistent and Absurd.
REPLY IS TO BE CALM
Britain Strengthened While
Adversary Was Being
Supplied With Goods.

New York, July 25.-The committee
q protest formed by so or more New
York firms and individuals on the Brit
ISL trade blacklist widened its scope
today and sought aid from merchants
and bankers throughout the country.
i was announced that 30 letters and
kilograms Offering support in the
movement against the blacklist have
heen received here from prominent
persons in other parts OF the country.
The local committee has selected as
lis chairman Leopold Zimmerman of
the banking house of Zimmerman &
Forshay Maurice 3. Blumenthal,
counsel for the organization. said
today:
We are making haste slowly, be
cause the great Importance and far
reaching effect Of the controversy.
The American side must he presented
without excitement or ClamOr.
Mn attempting to justify its con
duct England has declared through its
chief of the department Of foreign
trade as follows:
THE test applied before putting a
firm d0uiciled in America on the stat
utory list is this. Is that firm by its
business operations strengthening our
enemies? Ii so. then British firms
may not support it
Inconsistent and Unlawful.
This test reflects an attitude that is
IN unlawful. t2D inconsistent and CD
absurd: il is unlawful because in di-
rect conflict with those provisions OF
international law which recognize the
right Of neutral nations to trade with
any belligereut power, il IS lnCOnslst-'
emit in view Of the fact that during the
last fiscal year England has carried
on trade relations with citizens or the
United States reaching the billion dol
lar mark. whereby She, England. Ger
tainIv has been strengthened and If
il is fair TO us. as neutral citizens, vol
unfairly TO deal with England and thus
strengthen her how can England be
heard TO say that We are to be eX-
communicated from the realm OF com
marce il we voluntarily deal with Eng
lands adversaries, thereby strength
eEing' them
Officials See Complications.
Washington. July Protection Of
American business houses named IN a
commercial blacklist prepared by
Great Britain is looked for in vigorous
action by the United States. harIy
steps may be taken, it was Indicated
TODAY. unless satisfactory explanations
come from London in reply to lnformal
inquiries by American Ambassador
Page President Wilson has let II be
known that he is deeply concerned
Officials see complications in the re-
ported intention OF the allies TO take
concerted action along the lines OF the
British trading with-the-enemy act
That would increase difficulties or the
business concerns and would extend
diplomatic inteTchanges-
BIASED on Misrepresentation
London. July 25-Replying to ques-
tious in the house OF commons, Lord
Robert Cecil minister Of war trade
said today that the American press
criticism of the British blacklist was
based largely on misapprebenslon. Inc
act under which the statutory list OF
American firms was issued, he SAID
was passed last December and lists re-
fe-ring 10 most Of the neutral coun-
tries already had been published. Nor
We're the provisions OF the act ne
added unduly stringent.
The French law, the minister said,
provided that all persons Of enemy
nationality. wherever living, were enc
mics of France and that il was illegal
Tor F'reuchmeu 10 trade with them
tn the British case only persons VINO
had shown themselves hostile 20 inns
country were put on the list Neither
did Great Britain seek by these lists
10 interfere with the freedom OF action
Of neutral citizens, Lord Robert sald.
IL sought only to secure that BRUSH
goods and credit be not used for the
support and enrichment Of those ac-
lively assisting England's enemies
Cabinet Discusses Blacklist.
Washington. July Great Brit
aims blacklist against American firms
was discussed at length at today's
cabinet meeting. but afterword Acting
Secretary Polk of the state department
said there would be no immediate an
nOuncement-
Il was said the president and adyls-
ers were studying treaties with Great
Britain involved in the question ana
were waiting for replies TO lnIormai
Inquiries sent TO London through Slr 4
Cecil Spriug-Rice. the British ambas-
Gad0r here, and Ambassador Page.
While il is understood that II has
been determined 10 take some vigorous ,
action. cabinet members said after to-
days meeting that no definite course
had been decided upon. Facts bcinG
collected by American firms affected
by the blacklist are expected here
within q lea days.