OCR Text |
Show COTTON CANNOT GO 10 GERMANS London, Aug. 13, 7:15 p. m. Lord Robert Cecil, parliamentary undersecretary under-secretary for toroign affairs, in the course of n formal interview today, defining the British government's attitude at-titude In the complicated cotton situation, sit-uation, made this statement: "Tho nlllos must by all lawful inpans prevent cotton reaching their enemies; it may bo considered neces-scry neces-scry to make cotton contraband." Lord Cecil studiously refrained from any hint that tho commodity would be removed from tho free list at any specified date, or that the government had evolved any solution to meet tho demands of American cotton growers and neutral consumers. consum-ers. Ho stated explicitly, however, that if cotton wore made contraband England would consider the act legal antf internationally justified. His statement being the first In behalf of the government outside parliament par-liament relative to cotton, and coming com-ing at a time when the public is clamoring for drastic action to shut off the supply from Germany, is taken tak-en in some quarters to presage this step In the near future. Lord Cecil's statement In part follows: "The British government, acting in conjunction with its allies, is giving the cotton situation its continuous an1 most earnest consideration. The government is aware of the important import-ant of cotton to America. We understood under-stood that upon a satisfactory adjustment adjust-ment of the matter depends to a considerable con-siderable degree the welfare of nearly a quarter of the population of the United States. The welfare of the whole population of Great Britain, however, also is involved, as well as that of all Great Britain's allies. "The allies must by all lawful means prevent cotton reaching their enemies. That Is a vital military necessity ne-cessity which al the world will rce-ognize. rce-ognize. "At the same time an equally Important Im-portant consideration must be given to a great cotton producing country like America and to consuming coun-triesj coun-triesj like Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Holland. A policy must be devised de-vised which will respect the legitimate legiti-mate rights of neutrals and yet safeguard safe-guard the legitimate interests of the allies and inflicting as much damage as possible upon our enemies. "It may bo considered necessary to make cotton contraband. There is assuredly ample justification for the action if it is deemed necessary. "In any case, whether cotton is contraband or not, the allies must permit neutral trading in this product. prod-uct. American growers must be given giv-en their market in neutral countries, even if they are adjacent to Germany and the Industries of those countries must have the cotton required for their own needs. "We are Interested only in keeping cotton out of Germany. Ger-many. "All Americans must be fully aware of the complicated and gigantic character char-acter of any scheme of this sort and the study of it will be required before be-fore being put into operation. I hope America will not be Impatient, but will rest assured that the governments govern-ments of the allies will give every consideration to the legitimate interests' inter-ests' of all neutrals." oo |