New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-26
Lansing, Hoover, Houston
and Wilson Will For.
mulate Policies
'~ssA
Coal and Fuel To
Be Licensed First
Free Play for Trade and
Stability of Prices Aim
of President -
From rhs ryieuns Bureau

lfron ms lylctne btfeAuJ
Washington, June 25. - President
Wilson to-day created an Exports
Council TO formulate policies for the al
ministra;ion OF the recently enacted ex-
port control law. The new export body
will be comprised Of the Secretaries Of
State, Agriculture and Commerce and
Herbert C. Hoover, head OF the food
administration. II Is expected the va.
rious executive heads will delegate tn.
duties devolving upon them through
membership in the council TO specially
qualified representatives OF their re-
spectiye departments.
Although no official statement re-
eardng the personnel OF the council
has yet been made, il is believed DR.. L.
+. Pratt will represent the Department
Of Commerce, Assistant Secretary Carl
Vrooman the Department Of Agricult.
ure. Lester II. Woolsey the Department
Of State, and J. b. White, wheat expert,
the food administration.
The President tonight issued the
following statement explaining the
operation Of the law:
The Presidents Statement
II is important that the country
should understand just what is intend
ed in the control OF exports which is
about 10 be undertaken, and since the
power is vested by The Congress in
the President, can speak with su-
thority concerning it. The exports
council will be merely advisory TO
the President.
There will. Of course, be no prohi-
bition of exports. The normal course
Of trade will be interfered with as
little as possible. and. so far as pos
sible, only its abnormal course d.
rected The whole object will be TO
direct exports in such a, way that
they will 90 first and by preference
where they are most needed and most
Immediately needed. and temporarily
TO withhold them, If necessary, where
they can best be spared.
Our primary duty in the matter Of
foodstuifs and like necessaries is to
see TO it that the peoples associated
with us in the war get Is generous a
proportion as possible Of our sur
plus: but il will also be our wish and
purpose 70 supply the neutral ma
tions whose peoples depend upon us
for such supplies "a nearly in pro-
portion 20 their need as the amount
to be divided permits.
Little Check on Exports
There will thus be little check put
upon the volume of exports. and tte
prices obtained for them will not be
affected by this regulation.
This policy will be carried out, not
by prohibitiye regulations. therefore,
but b. 4 system OF licensing exports
which will be ss simply organized
and administered is possible, so as
to constitute no impediment TO the
normal acw Of commerce.
In brief, the free play of trade
will not be arbitrarily interfered
with. II will only be intellgently
and systematically directed in the
light of full information with regard
20 needs and market conditions
throughout the world and the neees-
stiles of our people at home and our
armies and the armies of our asso-
cistes abroad.
To Learn Needs of World
The government is taking, or has
taken, steps TO ascertain. for exam.
pie. Just what the available present
supply of wheat and corn is remain
/ ing from the crops Of last year; 70
I learn from each Of the countries eX-
porting these foodstuffs from the
United States what their purchases in
this country now are, and where
/ they are stored, and what their needs
/ are, in order that we may adjust
things as far as possible to our own
! needs and free stocks. And this in
! formation is in course OF being rap
! idly supplied.
The case Of wheat and corn will
serve as an illustration OF all the
rest OF supplies Of all kinds. Our
trade can be successfully and profit
ably conducted now, the war pushed
20 victorious issue and the needs OF
our own people and OF the other
neoples with whom we are still free
l 10 trade efficiently met only by sys-
tematic direction, and that is what
Will be attempted
Members Of the Exports Council vii
meet tomorrow 10 organize and 20 rec
ommend 20 the President a series o
proclamations which will put the la'
into active operation.
Licensing OF Shipments
The first proclamation will requir
the licensing Of all coal and fuel ship
ments. including bunker coal and il
purpose is 10 give the government
, firm grasp on shipping.
The second will provide a system .
/ licensing for every class of exports {
the European neutral countries and
designed TO prevent supplies froT
reaching Germany.
Proclamations 10 follow will nam
specific commodities which may not 3
SHIPPED anywhere without license
The first commodities TO be designate
will be cereals and other foodstuh
By degrees the list will be cxtende
until virtually every export commodi'
will come under the act.
Cooperation With Britain
The proclama,ions covering coal ar
exports TO European neutrals probabl
will be issued this week. Under a
arrangement TO be made with the Bri
ish government providing for intcrn'
tional shipping control, enforced \
bunkering and export licensing agre,
ments, the United States and Gre