New Britain herald., 1917-07-13
EMBARGO ON COTTON.
 SOON TO BE FIXED
Neutrals' Vast Imports May Be for Germany's Welfare

Washington, July 13.-Cotton, used In the manufacture of explosives probably will be placed under the export license ban by the rulings of the next presidential proclamation.
 Startling figures have been submit ted to the members of the defense council and it's advisory board to show that Germany has obtained tre- mendous quantities of this commod- ity through neutral countries. For instance it has been shown that in 1914 Sweden alone sent into Ger many. approximately 9,S00,00 pounds of cotton. Later figures are not available in regard to the exports from that country into Germany.
 Officials here have viewed the sit uation with deep concern. and have refused absolutely to discuss it, pend ing formal action by the exports council and the president. It can be said, however, that great pressure has been brought to bear to shut down on American exports of cotton to nsutrals, and thus make it impossible for Germany to manufacture explo- sives from the products of the United States.
  900 peunds of cotton from this coun- try above what is believed to be the normal requirements of the neutrals of Europe is believed to have been taken by them since the war began That statement is based on official figures which have been submitted to the government
 ySpain, Denmark, Holland Sweden and Norway are sharing in the tre- nendous increase, which vastly ex- ceeds their needs. The five countries cited, 1t was stated on the highest au- thSrity yesterday, received approx imately 525, 900 bales of cotton in the crop year 1915-16. In the year 1913- 14, just before the war, they re-
 Ncutrals Took 1,99S, ,OOO Bales.
 And the most alarming situation is shown by the figures which the Gov ernment has in its possession for the crpp year 1914-15, when the Eu- ropean neutrals took from the Unitei States no less than 1,99S,00O bales an amount that finds no precedent in the export history of America.
 Holland got about 5000 bales the year preceding the war, 520,000 bales in the first year of the war, and about 100 900 bales in the second year of the war, when England, rea- Iizing the seriousness of the situation shut down on the imports. Norway absorbed less than 2,0O0 bales in 1913-14, and in the following year jumped to 4S,000 bales. This was cut down to between ,OO0 and 900 in the last year. The most amazing in crease of all is shown by the figures applying to Sweden. The year before the war its imports were about 2S,- GOO bales. In the year 1914.15 Swed- en received in the neighborhood of 5O,0O0 bales. That was knocked down to approximately 65,000 bales last year.
 Denmark jumped it's imports of cot lon to 3 900 in the second year of the war and was then shut off. Spain, which imported about 210,000 bales The year before the war. added seven- tv-five per cent. the following year, and last year imported 53o.oO0 bales.
 1t is known that Germany and Aus trfa have been bending every effort r Id obtain cotton and have been placed In a dangerous condition because ot The measure which have already been ,aken by some of the allies to shut down the exports to the northern neutrals and Holland There has been e shortage and the ban which the limited States will probably impose ,viSA cause a more critical condition.