New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-19
u. $. Export Figures
Stir Blockade
Advocates.
PRESS CAMPAIGN
PREPARES SHIFT
Opponents Fear Lest Ncu-
trails Be Driven Into
Arms of TeutOnS.
Bv ARTHUR 6. DRAPER.
Try cable 70 The Tnbune.l

AOUQ0Uf jan o. ~ ~ hliA'A tsAfA'
that the publication here Of fguies
cabled from Washington comparing the
United States exports to neutral coun-
tries for the first ten months Of 1915
with the corresponding period Of 1919
caused an enormous sensation.
1t tremendously strengthened the
case Of those advocating the instith-
tion Of blockade Of unprecedented
severity for preventing food and war
supplies OF any kind from going to
Germany 10 the obvious injury Of neu-
tral interests
Official circles 60 far decline TO Gov
troyert the figures because the matte
becomes a subject cf debate in bot
houses OF Parlismen, this week. wh-r
an Official reply will be made.
The Tribune understands the main
arguments OF the reply will take the
shape, first, OF proper comparison
between the last eight months Of 1919
and 1915, because an enormous quan-
tity OF goods was shipped hurrledly
early in 1915. anticipating a blockade;
secondly. the figures are unreliable, be
cause the neutral countries specified
arc also the highways to Russia as wei!
as 10 Germany, besides which they are
obliged 70 supplement from America
articles usually imported from Ger
many; thirdly the question IS more
political than commercial, and that q
severe handling is liable 20 drive all
the neutral countries into the arms Of
the Central Powers
Foreign Office Weary Of Criticism.
It seems evident that the Foreign
Office is weary Of the criticism whlcl
its policy has been subjected 10, and
that il will be quite willing TO have
the subject freely ventilated in Parlia-
ment. but il is not regarded as llkeir
that IL viii grant the demands Of the
extremists that the entire control 81
the blockade OF the Central Powers be
surrendered TO the Admiralty.
But If the government wishes TO re
verse tho blockade policy. or 10 place
10 on a more regular basis, the present
.kilfullv engineered newspaper cam
paign has certainly paved the way.
4 large amount Of public feeling ls
represented by "The Evening stand
ards" editorial tonight: Whatever
the remedy. some change Is imperative.
We took OF our Kid gloves last March
when we tore up the declarations Of
Paris and London. We must now put
the knuckledusteTs on. America VIII
complain and probably threaten 20 stop
the export OF her munitions. Let US not
be frightened. a nation that accepts a
price for its Lusitania victims ism
likely to ignore the profits Of the muni-
tion trade"
Apart from this there is growing
feeling that the blockade policy must
publicly be made an allied and not
merely e British policy, and also tnst
the answer 70 the American note should
not be only British, but should he pre-
sented jointly by the Allies.
Joint Policy Needed.
"The Westminster Gazette which
frequently voices the views OF the gov
ernment, admits that more stringent
measures should be taken 70 restrict
overseas trade with Germany, but
adds:
at is idle to suppose we can get all
we want for the Allied cause from neu-
trail countries without making conces-
sions in return.
The Gazette" contends that any
blockade policy must be framed and
presented 10 neutral governments joint
" by Russia, France, Great Britain and
Italv. II suggests that the answer 70
tho American note should go not from
Great Britain alone, but from the
Allies in concert, and that It should
contain full statement Of the objects
for which the Allies are contending
in the war and of their case against
the Central Powers.
The British government recently
sent a specially qualified business man
on mission to Holland and Scandi-
nayia to investigate whether the lega
tions st the various capitals were dong
their work efficiently in supervising
agreements and contracts for prevent
ing the leakage of foodstuffs 70 Ger
many. On hi. return he reported TO
the government that everything posi-
BILE was being done TO prevent such
leakage.
In behalf of the government, II is
argued that, although in the early
months after the Order In Council
large amounts of contraband did sue
ceed I'm reaching Germany, the block
ade since June has been very strict.
and is ever growing more efficient.
Moreover, il is added. the Danish agree
ment only became operative in Novem-
Der. and II the statistics Of trade since
November were published, they would
show how the blockade is continually
Tightening.