Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-16
nInl ann rn CERMANY.

I'M rocert activity OF the Department Of state IN Civ
ing publicity TO the continued German intrigue
against the United states viii hardly suffice to dvert at
enton entirely from the record the department Itself
in the matter OF supplying Germany with war needs
While the facts supported by statistics make less eXe-
ing reading than the disclosures OF activity yet tho
facts are getting place the public mind which VIII
long be held
"A remarkable If dsconcerting story" is what the Ma
onal Bank of Commerce, OF New York. calls the reoita
OF statistics showing marvellous increase OF exports
OF raw cotton TO neutral nations adjacent 10 ueras
during 1915 as compared with the average lot neseu
,od before the outbreak Of the war. The annual aver
900 bd heen about 1872 600 bales. For 1915 the exports
n, those same countries reached the amazing total Of
,ss5oo bales-neary six times the former shipments
Nnfestlv that excess quantity Of cotton was going 10
Germany for use in making ammunition Columns lenS'
blankets etc Here what the National Bank Oh Con
- s ~ the sales Of cotton to the neutral countries
adjacent to Germany
"sv the Spring Of 1915, it became evident, both to
Great britain and to France that something must be
dome 70 nrevent the receipt by Germany Of cotton for the
manufacture of explosives March fl, 1915 the Brit
sh Government issued order in council which eX-
tended the doctrine Of continuous and consequent
right OF seizure and examination in Allied ports to non
contraband goods and the right OF contscaton II they
could be proved to have an enemy destination rms
nolcv was in accordance with principles worked out IN
our Civil War; except that it applied them even more
rigidly.'' --...., =,
Here IS where the records OF our own Department OIL
state becomes pertinent on October 2i 1915 more han
seven months after the Order in Council OF March H.
Secretary Lansing wrote Ambassador Page as shown DS
volume 3 OF the American White Book, defending our
exports TO the neutral nations adjacent TO Germany
naraeraph ~ Of his letter. Mr.. Lansing said
"The further contention that the greatly increased Hi
norts Of neutral countries adjoining Great Brilans enc
mics raise presumption that certain commodities suol
as cotton rubber and others more or less useiul lo
military purposes though destined for those countries
are intended for rc-exporation TO the beliserens WIN
cannot import them directly and that this fact justine
the detention for the purpose Of examination oil all YES
sells hound for the ports OF those neutral countries hoV
thsanding the fact that most Of the articles oil u'u
have been placed on the embargo lists of those cou
fries cannot be accepted laying down just OF lesa
rule Of evidence. Such a presumption is too remo'
from the facts
The Lansing note was, Of course written with the ap
proval OF the President Here then, we have the ad
mnlsraton asserting that when our exports OF cotto
TO neutral nations adjacent to Germany jump from "a
average OF $4,000 bales TO the amazing total Of isao
hales in one year. the presumption that the excess wa
going 10 Germany was remote from the facts"
Here is record even more humilating Great Brita
mt the ban on shipments of cotton to neutral Europe'
countries in March 1915. The United states entered Il
war In April 1917 but the President did not add cov
10 the list OF commodities requiring an export hcen
until August t9i1.