The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-02
Mill ASK AMERICA
TO BOYCOTT HUNS
To Be, Absolute Economic Cut
Off of Everything of Ger
- man Origin.
TO JOIN THE BRITISH
Delegates Sent to United States
in August for Our Full
Support Havelock
Wilson = Idea.
copyright. 1918, by Universal
RSery1Ca)r

copyright, 1918, by Universal
8Serv1ce),
=. London, July --~' America is TO be
asked To totn an absolute economic
boycott Of Germany" Havelock Will
son, originator of the most somplete
and unusual boycott vet suggested.
told Universal Service today.
I'VE Shall send delegates to the
United States in August, hoping to
gain fin support Of All Americans in
realization of Germany's t-boat
crimes,
ct Will he a boycott n the utmost
without stint and without limit
1T will be Americas opportunity
to a~enge TIE ravages on merchant
shipping along her coast, where wo-
men and, children were turned adrift
In open boats
Havelock Wilson. a Keen vlSaEed,
rniddle-aged sea dog himself. means
what he says More than that, rs
president of the British Sailors and
Seamens' union he has ESQ 000 We
henent voices behind him. recently re.
inforced by 500. 600 British dock work
ers who have themselves declared in
favor Of the boycott to the limit
AS president Of the International
Federation Of Seamen, recently or
Eanfzed at Copeuhs gen. he speaks inF
the sear1,en Of Norway. Sweden. Dom
mark and Holland, who likewise have
accepted the boycott. Wilson slso Iii
reefs the Merchant Seamen's league.
comprising non-seafaring men in bo,h
allied and neutral countries demand
Ing the boycott
Helped Build Brooklyn Bridge.
Wilson. who as rigger, helped 10
build the Brooklyn bridge and later
worked in Philadelphia and Baltl-
more, explained the boycott British,
French, Italian and the sym pathetic
neutral seanen will refuse TO sail on
ANY ship with q German. will refuse 70
transport German goods. will refuse
to coal German ships. will refuse TO
carry ANY wares into "A German port
and refuse to permit the unloading OF
any neutral ship carrying German
cargo. Austria will receive the same
treatment.
Hundreds Of American unions and
business mems clubs have Joined the
league and endorsed the boycott" said
Wilson. We are not asking for the
help of governments or politicians.
We claim that If this boycott cannot
Ire maintained by the people them
selves 1t is no use wasting time in
troubling the governments about do
ing it, We would consider ourselves
Incompetent IL We could not arouse
public opinion in all countries to car
~ this through.
Wilson explained that the boycott.
first determined upon by the British
Seanlen last July when IL was TO he
enforced two years after peace, will
continue st least five years and eight
months. Additional time penalties
have been added for new boat crimes.
each new act Of haHharisrn being penal
ICED by The addition of one month 10
the boycott.
America Knows
America, suarting from recent sub
marine ravages and Smelling Of open
boats, said Wilson now knows why
we British desire some punishment for
Germany's submarine crimes. As a
practical seaman. / DO not believe
U-boat activity in American waters
will become serious because the men
ace will be effectively COPIED with by
the United States.
We look upon it as one OF those
death and glory strikes OF Germany.
There lis nothing we seamen resent
more than breaking international law
or its usages We don't mind a scrap
In fact, British seamen glory 10 take
part in one. but We do detest men
who strike below the belt
All sorts and conditions of people
from the highest to the lowest are
supporting the league Our most de-
tsrnined supporters are British wo-
men. There are no half way measures
about them If you could see them
shoveling coal into boilers. turning out
munitions and working oveKiYne. YOU
would appreciate their spirit It's
marvellous"
Asked whether the British seau7en
would relent from the boycott Wilson
said:
II the German people take fun
control OF their government. Gust the
Kaiser, forget militia risu, and adopt
form OF government along American
Hines and then show by decent con-
duct that they are done with Hun kul-
fur. then the league might consider
how far II can mitigate the punish
Ynent that hes ahead ~ Germany. But
until these things happen there will
be no easing up
II have ample evidence the Ger
mans know ali about our boycott plan
and fear it Who il going TO travel
on German ships besides Germans
There are some shipping com
panies in England that have an ifea
that after the war they VIII he allow
ed to enter compacts with German
shipping com panies for mutual pro-
lection. Our reply is: Let them try
II and they will find oQt that wen
treat them in the same way az We
shall treat anything German