ENGLAND

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1915, Page 5

ENGLAND

COTTON. IMPORTANT MEETING. URGES IT TO BE DECLARED CONTRAbAND. Received August 12, 8.50 p.m. London, August 12. Sir C. VV. Macara, president of the English Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' Association, presided at a meeting in Queen's Hall, and urged declaring cotton contraband. Sir C. W. Macara said they did not doubt that cotton was largely used in the manufacture of explosives. He was sure the Government had given anxious consideration to a complicated problem, but Britain must utilise her command of the sea to pretwit cotton reaching the enemy countries. It was absolutely necessary to take strong measures, while acting fairly to neutrals. He had long advocated ensuring an adequate supply for lean years. and they might arrange an AngloAmerican purchase of the cotton ordinarily going to Germany. Sir William Ramsay said that cotton U the only substance the Germans could not supply for munitions. Xo chemical products could repkce raw cotton, and ammunition from used cotton is more ineffective than that made from unused Cotton. If Britain stopped cotton, she Stopped the war.' Cotton was reaching Germany from variou* sources. Sweden imported. twenty-five fold the amount required for her own needs, and almost fc'vury neutral imported out of all proportion ta their needs Britain was i-niitributing indirectly to the defeat of the Russians, and it was grossly unfair to tlw Allies and ourselves Lord Charles Bercsford wrote deploring the fatal wait to see Britain's policy. What good was the Coalition Government if it procrastinated like its predecessor? What good was the mastery of the sea if we failed to reap the advantages? The mueting passed a resolution urging the Government, in the interests of the Empire and the Allies, to immediately declare cotton as contraband, thus ensuring the protection of the interests of neutral growers and consumers.