Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1914 — WILL HALT ALL SHIPS [ARTICLE]

WILL HALT ALL SHIPS

Britain Warns That Vessels Will Be Stopped. Spring-Rice Asserts Oil Sent to Neutral Countries Can Be Sent to Belligerents. Washington, Oct. 27. —Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, British ambassador, in a formal letter to Acting Secretary ot State Lansing, asserts the intent of Great Britain to keep on holding up American vessels at will, to determine whether they are carrying contraband of war.

At the same time, in another communication, the ambassador emphasizes the ruling of Great Britain that cotton is not contraband of war, and that any such shipment will be allowed to pass. Sir Cecil discusses the holdup of the Standard Oil tank steamer Rockefeller as an excuse for explaining Great Britain's attitude.

He makes a strong point of the shipment of oil by American ships, saying that large quanlities of it are in demand by nations at war with Great Britain, for airships and submarines.

He emphasizes that much of this oil is being shipped to neutral points, and from them sent on to a belligerent. This Great Britain strenuously objects to, and Sir Cecil makes it plain that his country will insist in each instance on finding out whether the oil or other cargo—excepting cotton—is actually intended for the neutral point to which it is consigned. London, Oct. 27—The British gov eminent ordered the release of the American oil steamer Brindilla. The vessel will l . permitted to proceed to Alexandria,