Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-02
BRITISH BAN
Continued from PAGE One)

VII 0SS WV
missioner Frank ?. Washburn of the
Maine Department of Agriculture
and delegation from this State to
confer with President Coolidge.
Zone week ago." continued Gov
ernor Brewster in his statement,
Clarence A. Powers representing
the Independent Potato Dealers Of
Aroostook county, and Andrew J.
Beck representing the Maine Potato
Growers Association. and Mr.. Percy
r. Todd. president Of the Bangor &
Aroostook Railroad. presented GER
tain additional evidence dealing with
the English potato embargo which
they believed was of very great i'm
portance in the prosecution of their
case. They asked the commi> sioner
of agriculture and myself to accom-
pany a delegation of growers and
shippers to Washington to empha size
to the authorities there the very
great Importance Of securing any
possible relief of the existing situa-
ton and also the importance of the
additional evidence as showing what
appeared to be discrimination by the
British Government in their action in
this case.
Through Senators Hale and Fer
maid and Congressman Jersey con-
ferences were arranged with the
state department and the president.
The state department gave an entire
afternoon to the consideration of the
case and thought the additional evil
dence of such importance that long
cable with additional instructions and
presentation of facts was Immediate
ly sent to London to the American
ambassador.
The secretary Of state, Mr.. Hughes,
received us Saturday morning prior
to our conference with the president
and assured us that no stone would
be left unturned to secure modifi-
| cation of the embargo and that the,
American ambassador would press
personally and formally for a reply.
President Coolidge received us Sat-
urday noon and expressed very
great deal of interest in the entire
situation and showed a thorough
knowledge both of our agricultural
| problem in general ard Of the i'm
mediate difficulty confronting us
through the action of the British
government.
| 1--WE We're much impressed with the
activity and attention of our senators
and congressman in this matter and
with the pressure which the state
department under the direction of
the president in bringing to bear on
the British government for RECESSION
of the embargo.
/ 1T Is earnestly hoped that a reply
of satisfactory character to the re-
peated representations by the United
States government may coon be re-
Ceived. We are assured every re-
source is being employed to bring re-
lief to the potato grower and shipper
of Maine"
White House Statement
At the close of the conference with
the Maine delegation at Washington
the White House issued the follow
) ing statement:
| "The president this morning re-
ceived the governor of Maine and a
delegation of the principal potato
growers of the State. who came to
] Washington to enlist his personal in
1 terest in bringing about the raising
of the British embargo against
American potatoes.
THE governor stated that the de-
/ pnrtment Of state had made ener-
getic protest to the British govern
ment against this embargo as being
discriminatory. and has also pointed
out the practical impossibility that
| winter cargoes of potatoes could
carry the Colorado beetle. The gov
ernor stated that he was satisfied
with what had been done so far and
asked the presidents continued in
terest in the matter. The president
told him that he hoped the matter
might be pushed to successful con-
Clusion."
The delegations which accom-
fn1 ,ctn 70 10 Il
ington included +. Z. Washburn.
secretary of agriculture, of Maine;
A. j. Black. Caribou. general mana
ger Of the Maine Potato Growers
Exchange: c. A. Powers. Fort Fair
field, and w. ii. Martin, Bangor po-
tato shippers; Percy r. Todd. Ban
gor and Frank c. Wright, New York.
president and vice president respec-
lively Of the Bangor & Aroostook
railroad, and Sydney w. Noyes. a
New York Banker.
Names Additional Evidence
The new evidence sent by Secre
tary Hughes to Ambassador Kellogg
was furnished to the state depart
ment by the Maine delegation. 1t is
! in substance that representatives in
England of the Maine growers have
been given assurances by the British
| agricultural authorities that the en-
barge would be lifted. If shipments
| of American potatoes are certified as
being free from potato bugs. AS both
| the Federal Department of & gricul-
| ture, the Department of State, and
the Maine agricultural authorities
are ready to inspect and certify ev-
| cry shipment of potatoes, the Ameri-
can government believes the British
government has no leg left to stand
on.
If the British government still re-
| fuses to lift the embargo, it will be
| regarded by the government officials
| here as plain indication that the
embargo is not based on fear of al
legged potato bug infection, but is in
tended as a direct discrimination
against American potatoes and in ia
vor of Canadian potatoes. 1t is a fact
that potato bugs are just as preva-
lent in Canada as in the United
States in the summer time, and vet
there Is no embargo against impor-
tations Of Canadian potatoes into
the British Isles.