Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-03
SITUATION MENACES PLANS OF
AMERICA TO STOP SHIPMENTS
GERMANY.
NORWAY FIRST TO SUE
FOR NEW ARRANGEMENT
Denmark, Sweden and Holland Expect.
ed to Follow Norway Plea to Permit
Food Exports to Go to Their Own
PeopIe-HoIIand Willing to Exchange
Ships For Food.

aSnlnSton, Aug. Sine pinch OF
President Wilson's embargo policy, de-
signed to shut off Germany's foreign
sources of food and war munitions, is
being felt in the neutral countries OF
northern Europe.
Norway is the first to come forward
seeking an understanding with the
United States whereby American
products may be obtained. In return,
but fish to Germany and to place al
disposal Of the allies.
The administration is confident that
Denmark, Sweden, and Holland. all Of
which are selling immense quantities
of supplies to Germany, will not be
able to hold out much longer and will
follow the example of Norway in seek
ing an understanding with the United
States.
Russia May BaIk Plan.
The situation in Russia, however,
may defeat the aims OF the admins
tration in adopting the embargo poll
icy. If the president succeeds in plug
ging up the leaks in Scandinavia and
Holland, only to find that Germany is
feeding at the Russian barrel his ef-
forts will have been in vain. There
are grave misgivings in Washington
that Germany already is obtaining a
considerable quantity of food from
Russian sources
DR. F'ridtjor Nansen, the polar ex-
plorer, is Norway's envoy seeking 20
reach an agreement with the United
States to lift the embargo on the ex-
portation of American products to the
Norwegian kingdom. He will begin his
negotiations with the administration
tomorrow.
No Food to Spare.
Il see in the American newspapers
that the United States must have
guarantees that products from the
United States must not be ce-export-
ed said DR.. hansen. ut never has
been the case in Norway that imports
from this country have been re-ex-
ported, either directly or indirectly.
Norway has not exported foodstuffs at
all In recent years. She has not had
them to spare.
Exploration Of fats. grain. and
sugar Is wholly prohibited: no IL
censes are issued for them. What we
want first Of all is foodstuffs, because
Norway does not produce enough to
five on. Our chief needs are carbo-
hydrates. which are found in wheat
and sugar, and fats.
Will Mean Starvation.
II they are cut off it will mean
starvation. We had an instance Of
bot
to experience it again. It was during
the Napoieonic wars, when England
took the Norwegian fleet. because she
thought it safer. as Napoleon wanted
it. too, and we were forced to fight
England. England cut off our sup
plies. We don't want to go thru that
experience again.
Our exports to Germany now con-
stst of fish principally. There were
several items. including nickel. the ex-
portation of which has been stopped.
but they are now very few and small
in quantity, having been Gu. down to
very little. We wish to remain neu-
trail. and il would .be unneutral to cut
off all supplies to one side and permit
them to continue to go to the other.
Meats, fats, milk. butter everything
in the way Of Norwegian foodstuffs,
except fish, has been cut off from
Germany. and fish is exported to Ger
many in accordance with an agreement
with Great Britain. We have main
tanned that we could not cut off fish 20
Germany because that would mean
war with; Germany, but whatever is
now exported to Germany is really
1r,;fh no -
eminent.
"All Of our shipping has been to the
benefit Of the allies. No Norwegian
tonnage, not one ship, is now tied up
in port except what is held in British
ports. We are hoping that the prin-
cipie upon which we have been oper-
ating up to this date may be recog-
nized by the United States"
Holland Offers Ships.
Mr. Van Rappard, the Dutch min
lister. said that Holland also would be
willing to exchange ships for food, but
on condition that the ships were not
sent into the danger zone. The min
lister also said his government was
ready to devote $4,000 tons to the
transportation of -relief to the Belgians
IT the United States would allow Hol-
land to have foodstuffs for her own
use.
The Dutch merchant marine consists
Of about 100000 tons. Hollands I'M
willingness to have her ships go into
the danger zone, the minister said, was
because OF her great colonial trade.
1t is understood that the new export
regulations issued by the Swedish gov
eminent today-the purpose evidently
is to prevent brass. lead. copper, nickel,
and other base metals leaving the
country-will be followed by similar
orders from the other Scandinavian
countries and by Holland