The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-07-07

The front door" Of the state depart
ment is a high, wide portal in the ex-
act center of the south side OF the
south corridor, second floor of the war,
state and navy building, which opens
into the private Office of Robert Lam
sing, secretary OF state. The back
door" is nowhere to be found within
the mountainous pile of marble, gran
tie and Heterogeneous architecture
which houses the state, war and navy
departments. 1t opens onto Pennsyl-
vania avenue, directly opposite the
war, state and navy building, from
one Of the prim old residences which
give such staid air of dignity to GER
tain sections Of downtown Washing
ton.
The intensely and deliciously re-
spectacle old house is much more sug-
gestiVe of a row of bygone fashion
ables in high stocks and hoopskirts
than of a procession of importunate
mOderns seeking safe conduct for their
wares through the British blockade of
Germany and Austria. Yet it has be-
come annex to the state department"
and serves to shelter just such pc
Culiar and interesting activities grow
Ing out Of the world war.
The famous British order in council
of March IL, 1915, decreed COM
plete suspension Of the seaborne trade
Of Germany and Austria. Prior to
the PRONUNCIATION Of the decree, Amer
leans lad placed orders for merchan-
disc with Il = central powers mounting
far into the millions of dollars. The
order was general and necessarily
there arose questions as to particular
articles Of commerce concerning which
logical plea for abatement of the or
der could be made. Now, were the
claim to exception received through
the front door" of the state depart
ment and considered direct by the
secretary of state, the procedure
would be construed as involving rec
ignition of the existence of the block
ade and would imply an admission Of
its right to. exist.
Such an admission might be fatal
to negotiations growing cut of the
American denial Of the legality Of the
order in council. So the claimants
who have gone to the state depart
ment about this phase Of war diplo-
macy have been told substantially
this:
No, gentlemen, your business can
not be transacted here. Officially we
cannot ask the British government to
suspend its order as applied to partic-
ular cases because that might COM
promise our contention regarding the
validity Of the order. But II you will
cross Pennsylvania avenue to the old
red-brick residence right next to the
court Of claims you will find there,
upon the second floor, q gentleman
particularly expert in the handling of
Just these especial matters. This
gentleman, Doctor Holder, is our for
eign trade adviser. Doctor Holder
will not act, however, as an official
OF the state department. He will act
purely In personal capacity. Never
theless he will hear your case, will ad-
wise you and then will advise, quite
informally you know, with Sir Richard
Crawford, commercial attache of the
British embassy. No, Doctor Holder
will not deal with Sir Richard as the
Sir Richard Of the British embassy.
It viii merely be matter of two trade
experts talking together, the one of
whom happens to be American and
the other Of whom happens to be Eng
lish. In this way perhaps some ar
rangement can be made"
The consignments thus far released
through this medium Of negotiations
exceed $2O,OOO,OOO in value.
The release Of shipment has in
VOWED negotiations conducted from
the American end through the Office
of foreign trade advisers and conduct
ed personally by the present adviser,
Or. Charles A. Holder. Doctor Hold
eFs informal activities in behalf Of !