The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, January 14, 1915, Image 6
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WHITEN IN GOBI TONE
Not* is Published Slmultaneoasljr in
Wsshlngton end London—Brysn
Postpones Comments Until Com
plete Reply Is Kecetred—Englsnd
Accepts Theory Set For.
Orest Britain’s preliminary reply
to the protest of the United States
again interruption of American com
jnerce by the British fleet was made
public in Washington and in London
Sunday night by mutual agreement
between the state department and the
British foreign ofllce.
The British note concurs in the
▼lew of th**United States that com
merce between neutral nations
should be Interfered with only when
absolutely necessary, and officials
here construed it as conceding that
the principles expressed by the Amer
ican protest were Just.
The only formal comment was this
statement issued by Secretary Bryan:
“This answer being preliminary and
not Intended as a complete reply, we
will postpone comment until the full
answer is received:
The answer follows:
"The British Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs to the American Am
hassador:
January 7, 1915.
"Tour Excellency: I have the
honor to acknowledge receipt of your
note of the 28th of December.
"It is being carefully examined and
the points raised in it are receiving
consideration, an the result of which
a reply shall be addressed to your
Excellency, dealing in detail with the
issue raised and the points to which
the United States government have
drawn attention. This consideration
and the preparation of the reply will
necessarily require aomo time, and I,
therefore, desire to send without fur
ther delay some preliminary obser
vatlons which will, I trust, help to
clear the ground and remove some
misconceptions that seem to exist.
"Let me say at once that we en
tlreiy recognise the most friendly
spirit referred to by your Excellency,
and that we desire to reply in the
same spirit, and in the belief that, as
your Excellency states, frankness will
beet serve the continuance of cordial
relations between the two countries
distrten, suck as cotton, la obrloue;
bat It la anbailtted that this la do* to
the general cause of dlmlaiahed par-
power of each countrice
Franc*, Germany and the United
Kingdom, rather than to Interference
with trade with neutral countries. In
the matter of. cotton, it may be re
called that the British government
gave special assistance through the
Liverpool cotton exchange to the re
newal of transactions In the cotton
trade of not only the United King-
dm, but of many neutral countries.
Detention of Copper.
“Tour Excellency' note refers in
particular to the detention of copper.
The figures taken from official re
turns for the export of copper from
the United States for Italy for the
months during which the war has
been in progress up to the end of the
'1 **-<
ship carrying eottoa; bit, should
have information giving u*
reason to believe la the ease of
particular ship that bales of cotton
concealed copper or other contra
band, the only way to prove our
can* would be to dkamine and weigh
bales; a process that could be carried
out only by bringing the vessel Into
a port. In such a case, or if exami
nation Justified the action gt his
Majesty’s Government, the ease
should be brought before a Prise
Court and dealt with In the ordinary
way..,
“That the decisions of British Prise
Courts hitherto have not been unfa
vorable to neutrals is evidenced by
the decisions in the Mlramtchl case.
This case, which was decided against
the Crown, laid down that the Amer
ican sbipfer was to be paid even
first three weeks of December as fol- when he had sold a cargo C. I. F.,
Rights of BeOigereata.
"His Majesty's government cor
dially concur In the principle eoun
dated bg the government of the Unit
•4 Staten, that a belligerent in deal
ing with trade between neutrals,
should not interfere unleee such In
terference is necessary to protect the
beiligekeat's national safety, and then
oaly to the eat not to which this Is
nsBssssry. W* shall endeavor to
keep our action within the limits of
this prlnetpie on the understanding
that It admits our right to Interfere
when such Interference Is. not with
‘bona Ads' trade between the United
Statee and another neutral country,
bat with trade la contraband deetln-
ed for the enemy’s country, and we
are reedy, whenever our action may
unintentionally exceed this principle
to make redress.
“We think that much misconcep
tion exists as to the exten to which
we have, in practice, Interfered with
trade. Your Excellency’s note seems
to hold his Majesty’s government re
sponsible for the present condition of
trade with neutral countries, and It is
stated that, through the action of his
Majesty’s government, the products
of the great Industries of the United
States have been denied long estab
lished markets in European countries,
which, though neutral, are contigu
ous to the seat of war.
No Intention to Interfere.
"Such a result is far from being
the intention of his majesty's govern
ment, and they would excoelingly re
gret that it should be due to their
action. I have been unable to obtain
complete or conclusive figures show
ing what the state of trade with these
neutral countries has been recently,
and I can, therefbre, only ask that
some further consideration should be
given to the question whether United
States trade with these neutral coun
tries has been so seriously affected.
The only figures as to the total vol
ume of trade that I have seen are
those for the exports from New York,
for the month of November, 1914,
and they are as follows, compared
with the month of November, 1913:
"Exports from New York for No
vember, 1913 and 1914, respectively:
Denmark
Sweden .
Norway
Italy. .
Holland
. $ 558,000
, . 377,000
477,000
, 2,917,000
. 4,389,000
$7,101,000
2,858,000
2,-318.000
4,781,000
3,960,000
' As to Cotton Exports.
“It is true that there may have
been a falling off in cotton exports, as
to which New York figures would be
no guide, but his Majesty’s govern
ment have been most careful not to
interfere with cotton, and its place
on the free list has been scrupulously
maintained.
"We do hot wish to lay too much
stress upon Incomplete sta’istlcs, the
figures above are not put forward as
conclusive; and we are prepared to
ecamtne any further evidence with
regard to. the. state of trade with
these neutral countries, which may
joint to a different conclusion or
show that it Is the action of his
Majesty's government in particular,
sad not the existence of a state of
war and consequent diminution of,
porchasing power and shtnkage of.
trade, which Is responsible for ad-
t effects tpen trad* with the neo-
ef a state of
hao hed a was
MrtaiB great Ip-
lows: i
“Nineteen thirteen: Fifteen mil
lion two hundred two thousand
poonds; nineteen fourteen: thirty-six
million two hundred eighty-five thou
sand pounds. Norway, Sweden, Den
mark and Switzerland are not shown
separately for the whole period In
the United States returns, but are
Included in the heading ‘ther Europe’
(that is, Europe other than the Unit
ed Kingdom, Russia, France, Bel
glum, Austria, Germany, Holland and
taly). The corresponding figures un
der this heading are as follows: Nine
teen thirteen: Seven million two hun
dred seventy-one thousand pounds.
Nineteen fourteen: Thirty-five mil
lion three hundred fortyseven thou
sand pounds.
"With such figures the presump
tion is very strong that the bulk of
copper consigned to these countries
has recently been Intended, not for
their own use, but for that of a bel
ligerent who can not Import it direct.
It is therefore an imperative neces
sity for the safety of this country
While it is at war that his Majesty’s
government should do all in their
power to stop such part of this im
port of copper as is not genuinely
destined for neutral countries.
“Your Excellency does not quote
any particular shipment of copper to
Sweden, which has been detained
There are, however, four consign
ments-to Sweden at the present time
of copper and aluminum, which
thotlgh definitely consigned to Swe
den. are. according to positive evi
dence In the possession of his Males
ty's government, definitely destined
for Germany.
"I can not believe that with such
figures before them and In such
cases as those Just mentioned, the
government of the United States
would question the propriety of the
action of his Majesty's government
in taking suspected cargoes to a Price
Court, and we are convinced that it
can not be In accord with the wish
either of the government or of the
people of the United Statee to strain
the International code In favor of pri
vate interests so as to prevent Great
Britain from taking such legitimate
means for this purpose as are In her
power
As to Foodstuffs.
"With regard to the seizure of
foodstuffs, to which >>ur Excellency
refers, his Majesty's government is
prepared to admit that foodstuffs
should not be detained and put Into
a Prtse Court without presumption
that they are intended for the armed
forces of the enemy or the enemy's
government. We believe that his
rule has been adhered to in practice
hitherto, but if the United States
government has instances to the con
trary. we are prepared to examine
them, and It is our present intention
to adhere to the rule, although we
can not give an unlimited and uncon
ditional undertaking in view of the
departure by those against whom we
are fighting from hitherto accepted
rules of civilization and humanity
and the uncertainty as to the extent
to which such rules may be violated
by them in future.
Forty-five IVetained.
"From the 4th of August last to
the 3rd of January the number of
steamships proceeding from the Unit
ed States to Holland. Denmark, Nor
way, Sweden and Italy has been seven
hundred and seventy-three. Of these
there are forty-five which have had
coslgnments or cargoes placed in the
Prize Court, while of the ships them
selves only eight have been placed In
the Prize Court, and one of these has
since been released. It is, however, es
sential under modern conditions that,
where there Is real ground for sus
pecting the presence of the contra
band, the vessels should be brought
Into port for examination: in no other
way can the right of search be exer
cised, and but for this practice it
would have to be completely aban
doned. Information was received by
us that special instructions had been
given to ship rubber from the United
States under a destination to escape
notice, and such cases have occurred
in several instances. Only by search
In a port can such cases, when sus
pected, be discovered and proven.
Depression in Cotton.
“The necessity for examination in
a port may also be illustrated by a
hypothetical instance, connected with
cotton, which has not yet occurred.
Cotton is not specifically mentioned
in your Excellency’s note, but I have
seen public statements made in the
United States that the attitude of his
Majesty’s Government with regard to
cotton has been ambiguous, and
thereby responsible for depressions
in the cotton trade. There has never
been any foundation for this allega
tion^ His Majesty's Government has
never put cotton on the list of contra
band; they have throughout the war
kept it on the free list: and on every
occasion when questioned on the
point, they have stated their inten
tion of adhering to this practice. But
information has reached us that, pre
cisely because we have declared our
intention of not interfering -with cot-,
ton, ahlpa carrying' cotton will be
specially selected to carry concealed
contnbaadT; and we have been warn
ed that copper will be concealed In
bale* of cotton.
To Find Coarea led Goode.
"Whatever suspieioas w* have on
er* have not no far mad*
a ground for detaining ear
and when the risk of losses after the
cargo had been shipped did not ap
ply to him at all.
English Embargo
“It has further been . represented
to his Majesty’s Government, though
this subject is not dealt with in your
Excellency’s note, that our embargo
on the export pf some articles, more
especialy rubber, have interfered
with commercial Interests In the
United States. It Is, of course, diffi
cult for his Majesty’s Government to
permit the export of rubber from
British dominions to the United
States at a time when rubber la es
sential to belligerent countries for
carrying on the war, and when a new
trade in exporting rubber from the
United States in suspiciously large
quantities to neutral countriee has
actually sprung up since the war. It
would be impossible to permit tho
export of rubber from Great Britain
unless the right of his Majesty’s Gov
ernment were admitted to Submit to
a Prize Court cargoes of rubber ex
ported from the United States, which
they believed to be destined for an
enemy country, and reasonable lati
tude of action for this purpose were
conceded. But his Majesty's Govern
ment have now provisionally come
to an arrangement with the rubber
exporters In Great Britain, which will
permit of licenses being given under
proper guarantees for the export of
rubber to the United Statt , \
"Growing Danger.”
“We are confronted with the grow
ing danger that neutral countries
contlnguous to the enemy will become
on a scale hitherto unprecedented a
base of supplies for the armed forces
of our enemies and for materials for
manufacturing armament. The trade
figures of Imports show how strong
this tendency is. but we have no
complaint to nr ke of the attitude of
the Uevernmeots of those countriee.
which, eo far as we are aware have
not departed from pr per rules of
neutrality. We endeavor In the in
terest of our own national safety to
prevent this danger by intercepting
goods really destined for the enemy,
without “interfering with those
which are bona lids' neutral.
“Since the outbreak of the war,
the Government of the United States
have changed their previous practice
and have prohibited the publication
of manifests till thirty days after the
departure of vessels from the United
porta. We had no ’locus standi' for
complaining of this charge, and did
not complain. But the effect of it
must be to increase the difficulty of
ascertaining the presence of contra
band, and to render • ^eesry In the
intereet of our naf a' saftey the
examination and d* dftion of more
ships than would 1 been the case
it the former prae* jn had continued
Anxious to Avoid Delays.
"Pending a more detailed reply. 1
would conclude by saying that his
Majesty’s Government do not deeire
to contest the general principles of
law, on which they understand the
note of the United Statee to bo based,
sad desire to restrict their action
solely to interferences with contra
band destined for the enemy. His
Majesty's Government are prepared,
whenever a cargo coming from the
United States is detained, to explain
the case on which such detention
has taken place, and would gladly
enter into any arrangement by which
mistakes can be avoided and repara
tion secured promptly when any in
jury to the neutral owners of a ship
or cargo has been improverly caused,
for they are mose desirous in the
interest both of the United States
and of other neutral countries that
British action should not interfere
with the normal importation and use
by the neutral countries of goods
from the United States.
"I have the honor to be, with the
highest consideration, your Excellen
cy’s most obedient humble servant.
“Signed) E. Grey.’’
M AS USUAL
MSTitTUAfi imLIPURTSUI
UUIKAR VAISITIUTIM
WEATBEI REMAINS 8AD
WILL SEIZE DACIA.
England Intimates That She Might
Regard Ship Subject to Seizuto.
The status of the former Hamburg
steamer Dacia, „ loading at Port Ar
thur, Texas, with cotton for Bremen,
Germany, is receiving official atten
tion at Washington. It was learned
Saturday, because of an. intimation
from the British government that this
ship might be regarded as subject to
seizure. The questions involved are
of great Importance not only to Amer
icans seeking to purchase interned
German merchant ships, but also to
Southern cotton interests, now exert
ing every effort to find means of plac
ing the staple In European markets.
Held Gun and Barrel; Shod.
Nathan Allison of Gaffney was re
turning homo from a hunt when his
cousin, Jack Allison, aged seven,
grabbed his rifle barrel. The wea
pon went off, instantly killing the
youngster.
Train Knocks Man Off Trestle.
A man named Jonee waa killed
near Oayney Friday afternoon, when
a train knocked him off a treetle
across which La waa walking.
Germans Claim Advance in Alsace—
Austrians Repulse Russians But
Reports Continue to Complain of
Bad Weather and Muddy Roads—
Gains Are Small.
Vienna reports: "North of the Vis
tula at some points there have been
heavy artilleiy battles. An attempt
by the enemy to cross the Nldla with
weak forces failed.
“The situation in the Carpathians
is quiet. Two reconnoitering detach
ments of the enemy in Bukowina
were destroyed by machine gun Are.”
Petrograd reports: “On the left
bank of the Vistula no’hlng but de
sultory engagements with the Ger
mans have taken place. During the
night of January 8-9 ahd throughout
the following day the Germans direct
ed four successive attacks against us
in the northern region. Our troops
proceeding by sapping, pelted the
Germans with hand grenades and
forces them out of their trenches and
leveled their works.
“On the Austrian front no impor
tant change has occurred. Our at
tacks there, however, have succeeded
and the Austrians everywhere have
retreated. We took some prisoners.’’
Berlin reports: “The Morgen Post
prints details of a recent British at
tack on Tanga, German East Africa.
The first landing of 8,000 British
and Hindus was repulsed by the Ger
mans, who numbered about 2,000,
with 600 killed or wounded. The
British attacked again the next day
with reinforcements, but again were
defeated with a loss of 3,000. They
then re-embarked and sailed for Mo-
baaa.'*
Paris reports: “From the sea to
the Oise there have been artillery
duels.
“Upon the Alsne, in the region of
Solssons, the enemy, in spite of many
attacka, baa not been able to recap
ture the trenches which he had lost.
At the end of the day be again bom
barded Solssons.
"In the country from Rheims to
the Argonne our artillery has ehelled
the German treqcbf* very effectively,
at several points driving away bodies
of sappers. - ^,
“The positions which we have gain
ed at Perthes and around that village
have been organlxed. A counter-at
tack of the enemy to the weet of Per-
thee has been repulsed. In the neigh
borhood of La Ferte de Baesaeour we
have made a two-fold progress by
gaining ground to the weet and by
taking possession of field to the north.
"In the Argonne the enemy has
bombarded the region of Four de
Paris: we have replied and destroyed
a German blockhouse.’
Berlin reports: "Northeast of Sols-
sons the French repeated their at
tacks. They were all repulsed Satur
day. with great losses to the enemy.
We captured more than 100 prison
ers. Battles at Solssons itself recom
menced Sunday
"Near Perthes, northeast of Camp
Chalons, the French have again
fiercely attacked. Their attacks broke
down with very heavy loaaea to them.
We took about fourteen prisoners.
"In the Argonne we have gained
further ground. In this district, and
also in the neighborhood of Apre-
mont, north of Toul, the battles con
tinue
“On the evenin 0 of January 8 the
French again tried to take the villlage
of Vurnhaupt by a night attack which
failed completely. Our troops took
230 more French prisoners and one
machine gun. so that the war booty
taken at Burnhaupt is increased to
two officers, 4 20 men and one ma
chine gun. The French apaprently
suffered heavy losses on this occasion
also, as great numbers of killed and
injured are lying befbre our front and
in the neighboring woods."
London reports the Germans coin
cident with their movement from the
north have resumed their violent of
fensive operations west of Warsaw.
They are hacklnb their way forward
at some points, only to be in turn
driven out from their positions by
Russian bayonet attacks. That leaves
the situation in Poland as a whole
about what it was a fortnight ago.
The Russian sweep through the
Austrians crown land of Bukowina
continues unchecked. Servia, with
her army more or less rehabilitated,
is described in London as attacking
the dual monarchy from the south
with renewed vigor. Austria declares
that the latest Servian movements
have been repulsed. '
Credence is given in England to
the reports that Germany is planning
to throw troops to the assistance of
her ally in a third attempt to crush
the country of the Serbs. One hun
dred thousand Prussians and 300,000
Austrians, it is said, are to be employ
ed in the campaign, the Teutonic al
lies deeming such a move impera
tive, in view of the grave situdfion in
the Balkans.
The present position of Austria-
Hungary, according to observers who
are giving expression to their views,
is most critical. Threatened from the
east and from the south with Rou-
mania preparing to cast her lot with
the allies, the war ia being brought
to her front door.
This ia in sharp contrast to the
comparative isolation from strife
which Germany continues to enjoy
with only small strips of territory in
East Prnaala and Alsace occupied by
-bar- antagonists.—Mow atom—thaa
Drop Bom
A dozen German aerop!.
barded Dunkirk sad anvl
day A bent thirty l
vlroas Sub-
ever before, followers of the conflict
in England look to the astern arena
for immediate development*, of im
portance. ^ ^
Berta reports: "On the eastern
front bad waafber coatlaaea The
imber of prteeaeri taken en Jaa-
try T by as was Ml* AM* sere*
averts: "On
bank of the Vistula treat,
laces of ffookha. Metairie and Mosc-
heley, th* fighting has assumed a
character more and more dseparate
Th* Germans, notwithstanding the
great losses they have sustained, con
tinued obstinate attacks at different
points.
"In many places the enemy suc
ceeded in occupying provisionally cer
tain of our advanced trenches but our
vigorous counter attacks, followed
ordinarily by bayonet charges, com
pelled the Germans to let go their
hold. Thus in the region of Metairie
and Moghely on January 7 we drove
away the enemy who rushed our Ad
vanced trenche?, Capturing seven of
ficers and more than 100 men.
“In Bukowina we occupied on Jan
uary 6 Kimpolung (in Bukowina
near the Hungarian border) after an
advance and fighting lasting eight
days. Our troops during thtefighting
covered more than 120 versts (about
80 miles) and l finally crossed . the
mountain chain at the frontier be
tween Bukowina and Hungary. Dur
ing those operations we captured
more than 1,000 Austrians and also
took rich spoils of war.
Vienna reports: "A continuous
thaw accompanied by torrential rains
has converted the whole theatre of
the war in Poland and Galicia into a
sea of mud. Quiet prevails along the
whole line from the lower Vistula to
Uszok pass.
“Even the Carpathian mountains
are free from snow and swollen
mountain streams pour from the
summits, flooding the valleys. These
conditions, combined with the dense
fogs, have completely stopped all mil
itary operations.
"An artillery duel north of the Vis
tula continues. In Russian Poland
the Russians have mounted machine
guns in a number of church steeples,
thus inviting their destruction.
“Only minor engagements are re
ported in southern Bukowina and the
Carpathians.”
. “In the Carpathian forest lands and
In the southern part of the crown
land of Bukowina regard foe the safe
ty of our advance troops obliged us
to fall back on the principal mountain
passes before an enemy numerically
superior to ourselves."
Berlin reports an Austrian official
announcement: Austrian troops re
pulsed a strong Russian attack In the
western Carpathians, to the east of
Cxeromka, capturing 400 prisoners
and three machine guna. (Czermoka
la on the Hungarian border, about 40
miles southwest of Sanok.)
Paris reports: “Successes of great
er or leas Importance for the Alllee at
various points along the battle line
ia France are claimed in the official
report on the progrese of the fighting
given out by the French war office
Sunday afternoon. A German victory
la admitted in Alsace .where the
troops of Emperor William reoccu-
pled Burnhanpt-le-Haut.
"In one place the French gain con
sisted of three lines of German
trenches; at another they advanced
500 yards: elsewhere lesser gains or
the retention of positions are record
ed. The French artillery also has
been active, with results declared to
be advantageous.’*
Berlin reports that French forces
have been repulsed with heavy losses
at a point northeast of Solssons and
also near Perthea: that in the Ar
gonne the Germans took 1,200 pris
oners and were otherwise successful,
and that near Fllrey they blew up a
trench held by the French, killing all
the occupants. Also the French have
been driven from Burnuaupt-le-Haut
in Alsace. |
* r 10 PROfECT IRAK
ENGLAND TAKES BTBP8 TO AVOID
DELAT OR OUR SHIP*.
PUNS BEING PtIFEI
. WANT TO GET PARDONED.
Many Plead Guilty no as to be Freed
by the Present Governor.
A dispatch from Spartanburg says
that during this term of general ses
sions court there has been d grand
rush on the part of those under In
dictment, especially for violating the
dispensary law, to the bar of justice
to enter pleas of guilty. Out of forty
cases, according to Solioitor Hill,
more than thirty have entered such
pleas and others are to follow. This
fact has given rise to the general im
pression about the court house that
the last call for pardons is being gen
erally answered. It seems that every
body wants to be convicted before the
governor goes out of office on the
19th of the present month, and there
are, therefore, only ten days In which
to get executive clemency, if any one
is in need of it.
BIG FLEET TO GO.
Fifty-seven Vessels Will Pass Canal
for Kan Francisco Exposition.
Fifty-seven naval vessels will make
up the fleet which will go to San
Francisco by way of the Panama
canal next March, Secretary Daniels
announced Saturday. There will be
twenty-one battleships, headed by the
dreadnought Wyoming, Admiral
Fletcher’s flagship; twenty-three tor
pedo boat destroyers, and thirteen
auxiliaries, including colliers and
.supply vessels.
President Wilson will sail from
Hampton. Roads on. the battleship
New York March 5, 6, or 7. If plans
for the cruise are not amended by
congress, the fleet»will be dispatched
from Hampton roads several days In
advance of the president’s sailing, to
make sure that all reach the Isthmus
on time. If Secretary Daniels acr
companies the fleet he will go 6h the
battleship Texas.
German Vessel Soak?
A South American report Is cur
rent that the German cruiser Von
Der Tann has been sunk in an en-
Brltlsh Ambassador Says Only Eiffkt
American Ships Have Been Pnt
Into Prize Court—Naval Stores
May be Shipped Without Difficulty
—Official Statement.
Great Britain, Italy and The Neth
erlands have readied an agreement
whereby commerce to the latter two
^countries from the United States is
expected,to meet with a minimum
molestation. $}reat Britain, accord
ing to statements from both the Brit
ish embassy and State department,
also has taken steps to refmedy some
of the complaints made by the United
States in its recent protest.
The statements indicated that so
far as Italy and Holland are concern
ed, the British government now be
lieves the danger of getting contra
band articles through to Germany
and Austria has been removed.
Should effective measures be agreed
on between the Allies and the other
European neutrals British officials
believe American commerce in future
will not be subject to delays and in
terference.
American Minister Van Dyke, at
The Hague, cabled Thursday that th#
British, French and Russian minis
ters had given formal assurances that
merchandise, even of a contraband
character, would not be molested on
the high seas if consigned to the re
cently established Netherlands jnon<
opoly.
Secretary Bryan received a per-\
sonal note from Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, |
the British ambassador, stating that
Inasmuch as the re-exportation of
naval stores probably would be pro
hibited by Italy and Holland, ar
rangements would soon be completed’
whereby’these products could be ship
ped without difficulty to thoas coun
tries from the United Plates.
The British ambassador also issued
the following statement:
“Shipments for Italy in Italian
steamers of goods placed on the em
bargo list of the Italian governmeat
and consigned to named persona are
free.
“Articles for Holland (apart from
copper, petroleum and grain, except
rice and conn, which must be eon-
signed to The Netherlands govern
ment, should be consigned to The
Netherlands Overseas Trust to insure
non-interference.
“Out of 773 vessels that have pro
ceeded from the United States to
Scandinavian countries, Hoilend and
Italy, alnce the beginning of the war.
only eight have been pot into the
Prlxe Courts and one of theee has
been released, leaving only seven de
tained for decision of the Prise Court.
By far the greater number of those
detained for examination have been
already released.
"With regard to purchases of car
goes the British government has par-
chased many cargoes of copper and
has not yet condemned or confiscated
any neutral cargo or consignment, al
though some are awaiting adjudica
tion.”
In connection with this statement
government officials pointed ont that
while only eight ships have been put
Into Prite Courts, scores of others
had been held up for varying pertyds
of time before being released, it was
not only these delayc, but the conse
quent moral effect on shippers, who
hesitated to subject perishable goods
to extended examination in British
ports, which brought forth the Amer
ican note. The fact that only eight
cases actually were taken Into Prlze^
Courts has convinced many officials
that the bulk of American commerce
was of a legitimate character, and
that most of the detentions of Amer
ican ships were without real cause.
*The text cf the cablegram received
by The Notherlrnds minister from his
government was summarized In the-
following statement by the state de
partment:
"The British and French minis
ters. who were joined orally by the
Russian minister, have declared by a
note dated December 28 that con
traband merchandise which is con
signed to the recently established
Netherlands monopoly for the receipt
of Imports will not be stopped. They
also declared that their government
would not. stop foodstuffs (the neces
saries of life) consigned to mer
chants unless the merchants are be
yond a doubt mediums of (Jelivery to-
the governments at war with Great
Britain, France and Russia.’’
“The British ambassador gave Mr.
Bryan a general summary of the-
status of some specific questions rais
ed outside of the American note on
the general subject of eommerce. Mr.
Bryan Issued the following statement,
based on the ambassador’s memo
randum:
"The question of rubber Is beljev-
ed to be apprpaching a satisfactory
settlement. Progress Is being made
with the question of naval stores,
and it is expected tljat arrangementa-
will be made by which shipments can
be made to The Netherlands V and
Italy and «ther neutrals without dif
ficulty.’’
nent. No confirmation Is available.
Tartu Fear Revolution.
Fearing an internal revolution th*
Turk* are preparing, say* a 0ofia.
Bnlcaria. dlrpatrh, to remove th* ar
ch tvea of the cevommeat away from
{folding Hospital Train Ready.
The United States government is
holding a hospital train in readiness
at San Antonio. Texas, in order to be
on the stene immediately should any
thing happen at Naco. Ariz. ,
Ronmaaia la Mobilizing.
The Bucharest correspondent
of'
gagemeat eff tb^seast ef that eonU jThe Lopdtm MerMffg PosTsafrs ftoa^
mania ia mobilizing an army of 700.-
000 men.
Harry Coleman
Oov. Bienne has greeted a pardon
to Harry Coleman, th* Union man,
tn lilt; of the Harder *f~