The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-08-31
CONTROL OF EXPORTS TIGHTER.
Shipments to Neutrals Forbidden Ex-
cept Under License-Cotton In
cluded i'm List.

Washington, Aug. 27.-President
Wilson frightened the government
control of exports tonight by issuing
an order forbidding the shipment of
any goods to European neutrals ex-
cept under license, and by extending
the list for which license is required
in shipment to the allies and neu-
trails other than European countries
to include cotton, all meats, sugar and
most of Americas other export COM
modities.
In statement accompanying his
proclamation the president said one
of the first intentions of the govern
ment will be to see that no American
products are made "the occasion of
benefit to the enemy, either directly OF
indirectly" Officials interpreted the
order as forecasting vigorous use
of the export control as war meas
ure and a policy of the strictest ra-
tioning of countries contiguous to
Germany.
Formally Prohibited.
Exports to Germany and her allies
also are formally prohibited by the
presidents order and this is under
stood to mean that the freight con-
troll is about to supercede the British
system of giving letter of assurance
for American cargoes.
Coin, bullion, currency and evi-
dences of indebtedness are placed un-
der export license restrictions to Eu.
ropean neutrals whenever regulations
governing their export have been
promulgated by the secretary of the
treasury.
The presidents order contains the
first formal announcement of the
transfer of administration of the ex-
port control from the department of
commerce to the export administra-
tive board.
When the administrative board
made the fact public few days ago
it was explained that the action was
taken to facilitate the issuance of IL
cenSes.
Statement From President.
Accompanying the proclamation
was statement from the president
explaining it's purpose. 1t said:
"The purpose and effort of this
proclamation is not export prohibition
but merely export control. 1t is not
the intention to- interfere unnec-
essarily with our foreign trade; but
our own domestic needs must be ade-
quately safeguarded and there is the
added duty of meeting the necessities
of all the nations at war with the i'm
perial German government.
After these needs are met, it is
our wish and intention to minister to
the needs of the neutral nations as
far as our resources permit. This task
will be discharged without other than
the very proper qualifications that the
liberation of our surplus products
shall not be made the occasion of ben
eft to the enemy, either directly or
indirectly.
"The two lists have been prepared
in the interests of facility and ex-
pediency. The first list, applicable to
the enemy and it's allies and to the
neutral countries of Europe brings un-
der control practically all articles of
commerce, while the second list appli-
cable to all the other countries of the
world, makes only a few additions to
the list of commodities controlled by
the proclamation of July 9, 1917
ut is obvious that closer super
vision and control of exports is neces-
sary with respect to those European
neutrals within the sphere of hos
tilities than is required for those coun-
tries further removed.
Minimizes Interruption.
"The establishments of those dis
tinctions will simplify the administra-
tive processes and enable us to con-
tinue our policy of minimizing the in
terruption of trade"
The proclamation makes it clear for
the first time that the United States
is prepared to go almost any limit to
prevent goods from going to Germany.
Some administration officials even
favor stopping food shipments to neu-
trails where the food is used to feed
workmen engaged in manufacturing
war materials for German use. As
sumption by the United States of the
burden of maintaining the blockade
in so far as it applies to shipment of