Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-11
Tightening the Embargo.

The Senate acted wisely in voting the President
broad powers OF embargo on American exports to
neutral countries. Through Sweden, Norway, Den
mark Holland and Switzerland, particularly the
latter two Germany has been getting large quanti-
ties of food and other necesssries Those countries
depend on imports chiefly from the United States
for the very commodities which they sell to the
Central Powers Thus in shipping unrestrctedly
TO them we are helping to feed and sustain the
monarchy with which we are at war Ii is TO meet
this situation that the President has been autnor-
lied to use the embargo power
These neutrals have an unquestionable right to
their enrichng traffic. II would be as foolish tor
us to- censure them for selling TO Germany as 1t
was for Germany TO censure us, when we were neu-
trails for selling to the Entente nations But SIM
ply because we recognize and respect their legal
rights in the case we are in no wise bound to go
on supplving them with the merchandise which
constitutes their stock in trade with Germany. On
the contrary we are constrained by every consld-
Grafton OF sedefense and of loyalty to our cause TO
put stop to all American exports which are likely
10 reach an enemy destination.
To what an extent the embargo must be en-
poyed for this purpose depends on the readiness OF
the interested neutrals to cease exporting to Ger
many Their position it must be admitted. is deli
cate one. and Government will treat them with
the broad sympathy of a nation which stood for two
and a half years as a champion of neutral rights
But we cannot countenance for moment any course
which results in our food products and mil
itary supplies reaching the armies OF the Hohenzol-
Iern We shall do willing part to keep Holland
or Denmark or any other neutral from famine, but
we must draw rigid line against keeping up the
Kaiser's forces and thereby proIonging the war
II is a problem to determine just what Quanti-
ties and what kinds Of imports the countries bor-
dering Germany need for their subsistence Official
figures show that in a number of instances the ship
ments which have reached them from the United
States have been out of all proportion to their
necessities. is natural that their purchases from
ms should he heavier than before the war, because
they must look to for many things which they
formerly got from Germany; but this can not &C
count for all extraordinary increases. The Brit
ish blockade has done much to keep supplies from
reaching Germany by way OF Holland and Scandf-
navia and il will be still more effective now that
the United States is of the Allies instead of
neutral asserting rights trade with other neu-
rails But the only way stop entirely Germany's
American sources Of supply is to to IT that no
American goods reaches any country which sells
those goods to Germany.
p, For that purpose the embargo should be used
as broadly and as rigidIy conditions may require
We can act the more freely and unhesitatingy upon
this line because it is commerce that we
CONTROLLING We need for ourselves and our allies
every pound of foodstuffs which produce
We shall willingly spare the neutrals enough for
their own needs but cannot afford to let single
ounce slip through to the support of Prussan mil
itarism When this policy is enforced string
emily as it can be- Germany will feel the difference
and the war will be appreciably nearer an end.