Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-18
ReOie20 of FIve- Year
Fight for Fair Price Of
Cotton By Senat0r Smtth


lnent. Subsequently the acting seere-
tary of state Sent for the British am
bassador andTpressed' the complaint
upon him. @sfs -, -
Great Britain Makes Promise
After cabling the British govern
ment, the British ambassador on Oc-
| tober rs filed letter with the state
! department saying>h was authorized
| by Sir Edward Greysto assure the
government of the United States that
| it was not Intended to seize cotton
and that as far as Great Britain was
| concerned cotton would not be in
cluded IN any contrabaad list aand
would remain on theSfree list
! This lnfoPma tion was; telegraphed
| by Senator [SmithS to. cotton rlerr
chants from Boston to- Galveston:
Soon marine Insurance agents and
representa- of financial interesta
came to washington and through
Senator Smith brought into contact
with the secretary of state Renewed
assurances were given; That Great
| Britain announced it's Intention not
to Interfere with cotton shipments
| to northern and middle Europe.
| The ocean was white with vessels
carrying cotton within thirty days
| after this assurance was OBTAINED al
| Senator Smiths initiative from TIE
100000 bales were shipped to north
ern European ports during the
months of December, 1914, and Janu-
airy and February, 1915:
The burden was lifted from the
cotton holders of the south and by
the first of March, 1915, the price of
| cotton had risen to 10 cents per
pound
Great Britain Reverses Position
Early in March. however, Great
Britain announced purpose to seize
''all goods of enemy origin. or destl-
nation" and to take them into Brit
i ish ports for sale. Senator smith
! went at once to the state department.
and the British ambassador was cali-
e, at his instance. The ambassador
attention was brought to the assur
ance of Sir Edward Grey in OCTOBER
and it was insisted Great Brltaln
should respect her promise reSardlng
| hon-seizure of cotton. The ambassa-
dor promised to cable MS govern
I ment at once and on March brought
word that although Great Britain
would seize all cotton going TO ports
4 of northern Europe, the British gov
eminent would settle with the owner
of the cotton at contract price pro.
vided the contract had been made
prior to March and shipment had
| This unsatisfactory reply was at
lacked bv Senator Smith, who con-
tended that a belligerent could not
blockade a. neutral port, and as coy
ton was not cOHlFapaHf - !,
ain had no right to interfere WITH
4 shipments into Norway. Sweden Den.
mark and Holland, no matter Wna'
might be the suspected ultimate des-
tination OF the shipment, In speecnes
Il and interviews the Georgia senator
vigorously expounded this view,
On March 81 this government pro-
tested to Great Britain because %
u its interference with cotton SUPP
ments to, neutral ports, sustalniittlIS
the position of Senator Hoke smith
Meanwhile. the senator IN inter-
! views in metropolitan neWsps per-
ana senate speeches emphasized hls
protest and showed that only oilce
before had there been such lnteTIet
e1ce with cotton shipments rms
WIS during the so-Japanese war
when Russia attempted slmllal
course and abandoned her campalgtI
of interference when Great Brllulh
herself protested. Much of senator
Smiths time in the summer OF ~ "
was devoted to this question OF the
right of cotton shipments TO noTtH
ern Europe In his protests otheI
southern members of congress Joln.
ed and the issue was an acute one
here.
in July, 1915, cotton merchant O
} international reputation came 10 Sc
Senator Smith while he was on
: hrief visit to Atlantic City. -This
merchant suggested that Great Brit
ain would undertake to purchase am
: mold off the market two and hal
, million bales of cotton, if Senate:
1coo%{ured on pare 81