AMERICA AND THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3987, 21 July 1915, Page 5

AMERICA AND THE WAR.

HUNS WANT BRITISH BLOCKADE RAISED. UNITED STATES IMPORTS TO GERMANY INFINITESIMAL. UNCLE SAM NOT PREPARED TO DO ANY BARGAINING. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) ‘ LONDON, July 19. Lansing, American Secretary of State, and Count Berustorlf, the German Ambassador, conferred at New York, Count Bernstorff proposing that America should ask Britain to end the blockade if Germany would cease submarining. Tlie ‘•Times” Washington correspondent verifies the interview. . ’ Berustorlf requested a conference in order to interpret fho German Note. The Department, of Commerce figures show the effectiveness of the British blockade. The value of American exports to Germany iri June was €BO compared with €2,800,000 in 1914. . . j The American ‘‘Evening Mail" states that Air Lansing informed Count Berustorlf that America was unable to place itself in the position of bargaining with Britain over an entirely Germo-Bntish quarrel. HUGE ORDER FOR SHELLS AMD FUSES. U.K. TYPEWRITER COMPANIES TO HELP THE ALLIES. NEW YORK, July 19. The leading typewriting companies have formed a new corporation, styled the American Ammunition Company, lor the purpose of handling large contracts for the supply of fuses and high explosive shrapnel shells fot the Allies. It- is reported that a contract tor four and a-half millions sterling lor the supply of shells has been placed by the Cnadian Milida Dc’irtment m the hands of a financial group, which will arrngo sub-contracting.

STRIKE WAVE !N THE UNITED STATES.

•‘A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY for CONCESSIONS.” NEW YORK, July 19. Strikes at the Remington arms and cartridge factories, Bridgeport, employing twelve thousand men, begins to-day, involving twelve additional factories engaged in sub-contracts. Agitators are proceeding to New haven to bring out the Manchester Company’s employees. The same agitators have been active in New Zealand, causing disputes wherever munitions are manufactured. United strikes disastrously affect ammunition contracts, and are specially serious at Bridgeport, winch is a leading ammunition centre. The Labor loaders declare they are merely using the golden opportunity to obtain eight hours and wage increases. The employers insist that secret agencies are responsible for the strikes. Mr Gompors (Labor leader) charges German agitators with stilling up trouble, and asserts that they attempted to bribe the Bridgeport Labor leaders.

SECRET HISTORY REVEALED. EFFORTS AT ANGLO-GERMAN RAPPROCHEMENT. A STORY OF 1912. (Received July 20. 9.55 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, July 20. Semi-Official: The “Norddetitscher Alleginine Zeitung” gives details of the negotiations for an Anglo-German rapprochement in 1912, in which Lord. Haldane was prominent. The German Government desired a reciprocal treaty of neutrality- „ , Germany’s first rormula ran: “Should one of the. contracting parties be engaged in war, the other shall adopt at least benevolent neutrality and exert every effort to localise the war.” , Britain considered that the uropo.sa went too far, and counter-proposed that Britain should make no unprovocated attack upon Germany and should refrain from an aggressive poliev, adding a declaration that an attack on Germany formed the object of no treaty nor was' it the ann of any combination to which Britain belonged, nor would Britain be a party to any such agreement. Germany considered that rheso assurances already existed m the relations between civilised States, and con liter- proposed the following formula: , , “Should one of the contracting parties he involved in war and it cannot be'said that that Powci is the aggressor, then the other will observe at least benevolent neutrality and strive to localise the con-

flict.” . F ~ Sir Edward Grey’s reiteration of the offer promising not to participate in an unprovocated attack on. Get mu y finally made further negotiations dt pendent upon assent to the. following ClaU “Britain will naturally preserve a benevolent neutrality in the event of war being |forceu upon Gertfir n Edwavrd Grey declined the formula, fearing it would endangewthe existing friendly relations between Britain and other Powers.

SYDNEY’S FOOD PRICES.

RESTAURANTS RAISING THEIR TARIFF. (Received July 20, 8.55 p.m.) '' SYDNEY, July 20. The price of butter, including import duty, is fixed at 166 s Bd. lho retail price is Is lOd. Restauranters have decided on an all-round increase in the price of meals, owing to the dearness of foodstuffs. ' . Before the Commodities Commission, in supporting a rise in the price of tea, merchants predicted a world s shortage owing lo the enormous demands' of Russia and the armies of other nations. Australian supplies will last only a month.