Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-22

sued a statement to the press in which
he declared his intention to introduce
a bill providing for an embargo on
foodstuffs. He will offer the bill on
the opening of Congress and will urge
its consideration early in the session.
The proposed measure prohibits the
shipment from the United States of all
kinds of foodstuffs entering into daily
consumption by the people. the object
being to reduce the existing high cost
of such necessaries of life to domestic
consumers.
Statement of Views.
MI. Fitzgeralds statement follows:
II favor an embargo on foodstuffs
and it is my purpose to prepare bill
and to discuss the entire subject early
in the coming session"
Two reasons chiefly impe1 me to
favor such legislation. 1t is the most
effective weapon in our controversy
with Great Britain over her unwar-
ranted. outrageous and indefenslble
blacklist Of American merchants
Says Britain Shows Contempt.
"Affronts as unending as the result
ing injuries have been given us, and
Great Britain shows her contempt by
her persistent infringement of our
rights. AS our foodstuffs are needed
abroad. an embargo upon these exports
will be more effective than weary
months of diplomatic negotiations,
which end in the continuance of the in
defensible practices against our rights
The embargo should be imposed for
purely domestic reasons. The prices
of foodstuffs have reached levels that
are bringing widespread distress to
the country. Many hundreds OF thou
sands of our people are suffering from
the lack of the necessities OF life.
Wholesale prices in many commodities
are less abroad today than they were
year ago; here the retail prices have
advanced alarmingly.
Meets Foreign Trade Argument.
THE argument that nothing should
be done to interfere with the expansion
of our foreign trade does not impress
me. OF what profit is it if our foreign
trade is to grow with leaps and bounds
while our own people are brought to
the verge of starvation as a result
of IL?
Every other nation OF the world IS
conserving its food supply. Why should
the people of the United States suffer
from privation to enable others to be
satiated with our foodstuffs?
The time is ripe for the embargo
and l hope to see legislation speedily
enacted to impose it, Let America be
for Americans first.
Precedent for Embargo.
According to former attachO of the
State Department, who has recently
been looking up the subject. there is
no constitutional objection to an en-
barge. which sometimes is confused
with a tax on exports. the two being
entirely dissmilar in law.
Tho precedent for an embargo is
found in the early part of the nine
teenth century, said this informant of
The Star today: ut was the outcome
Of the war between England and
France. Both countries enacted meas
ures which seriously interfered with
the freedom Of American commerce.
The elimination was tn. Berlin decree
issued by Napoleon in 1906. which was
followed by the Milan decree and
others. Napoleon after d series of
sw Keeping military successes on the
continent established a so-called block
ade of England, although he had not
single vessel capable of enforcing 1t.
THE Berlin and Milan DEGREES abso-
dutelv forbade trading with England.
AT first it was not understood that this
poiicy which came to be known his
toricaIIy as the continental policy of
Napoleon, would interfere with the
trade of the United States. For
year il was not enforced against
American vessels. Then Napoleon be-
gan TO seize those vessels wherever
found, confiscate them and sell them.
Merchantmen Suffer.
innocent merchantmen which had
been OH the distant seas, wander
ing into a French port, were sub
iected to this treatment. When the
full purpose of Napoleon became evil
dent there was a strong demand in the
United States for a declaration of war
with France. But the national ad-
ministration of that day was Il peace
administration. a big element sup
ported il for keeping the United States
out of war. Another reason for not
declaring war on France was the fact
that Great Britain was equally arro-
giant and indifferent to the rights of
American commerce.
| "Siuce the United States was not
| ready to go to war with either beiiig-
| erent in order to enforce Its rights,
I "A party grew up "uIcti III Stu safety
/ first by Withdrawing American corn
! merce from the seas New England,
! which had the bulk of the trade, OBJ
/ iected strenuously. but its objections
! did not prevail. The attitude of New
| England on this matter is very inter-
! esting historical chapter.
/ Not Fully Effective.
/ THE embargo, which was duly au-
! thorized by Congress, was not popular
with the, country at large. either. and
| II never WAS fully effective. 1t was a
sweeping measure. intended to prevent
! sbjps from leaving American ports un-
9 m the trouble between England and
France was settled.
/ Notwithstanding that the purpose
! was TO keep the United States out OF
! war. some historians have traced the
war with England in 1872 to incidents
| growing out of this embargo"
Forced to Throw Cargo Overheard.
| MARSEILLE. November 22-The
Greek steamer Erissos has arrived here
and reports that she was stopped by a
| submarine, which seized 11S sacks OF
mail and forced her to throw her cargo
| overheard.
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