Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-16

WI" submarines In their territorial
waters. although they have always no
enormous quantities of food and other
supplies to German and many Of their
| cltizens = particularly many Swcdcs
and Hollanders-have become cnor-
mously wealthy. Several organizations.
1t Is true. have been established in these
countries such az the Swedish Victual-
| ing Commission and tho n. o. T. Meth.
erlands OVERSEE Trust) in Holland, have
been formed to satisfy the blockadine
powers that nothing imported by them
gets into Germany. They have. in tho
main, kept their promise But way.
have been found to get around thar
promise. Our State Department has re-
ceineo information that great many
OF the Swedish and Dutch products hay.
been shipped to Germany and home ne.
cess'ties been made up from imports
from allied countries, chiefly tbe
United States of America. In his first
embargo proclamation early in Julv
PRESIDENT Wilson stated that Sweden
which has always been "a large ex.
porter o. iron ores. is now selling more
ore 10 Germany than she used to sell
me whole world. and Is. meanwhile
importing iron orc from the the United
| states. So with wheat. IF HOLLAND
imports abnormal quantities from thi,
country she may sell her own product,
| TO Germany"
! Fail To Shut on Re-Exports.
British blacklists and the penaltie,
imposed by the various trad,nr-witt
he-enemy acts OF the allies failed to
smut of re-eNports to GERMANY TIL.
embargo rulings Of the United STARE,
| however. have done what tho ent.n,s
powers could not do. In two prociama-
ions during recent weeks, President
wilson proclaimed that. in order to
ecOnOmiZe N
ana sun have something to spare for
the ailieE. all exports OF grain, meat
ruel, steel and innumerable other COM
| moolties OF use in warfare must hero.
after be controlled by means Of IL
censes Issued under regulations by tho
newly created Exports Administration
| Board. Regulation of American ar
ports and a radical increase in the list
OF contraband recently issued by the
British government has so frightened
the blockade that not only GERMANY
but the little neutrals themselves have
been crying out In protest. The latter
have been sending missions to the
United States to endeavor to arrange
Tor supplies for themselves by giving
satisfactory assurances that such sun
pies VIII not be rc-exported TO our
enemies
for some years tho International In.
stitute OF Agriculture. with headquar-
ters In Rome-of which all the great
nations are membcrs---has been making
periodical surveys OF the crop situa-
ton all over the world. 1t has been
giving advice to the AGRICULTURAL de-
partmcnts Of the different governments
as 10 how crops of grains and other
1000 staples can best be stimulated
~ mas also. upon request. given in.
formation regarding the status OF food
needs In different countries. The
n oh -
other necessities Of progressive civiIiz-
ed life. such as the metals and other
mineral supplies. meat. fish, and tho
bases or chemical products. should
also be CLASSIFIED and distributed in ac-
cordance with the worlds needs
Naturally. the allied governments
and the United States are not publish
Ing abroad the details OF their plans
TO control the distribution or ROOD. fuel
and other necessities 1t is known
however. that rather deliberate neeo.
tiations arc now under way between
all the great commercial nations on
posed TO the central powers. with a
view TO seeing that nil are supplied
according to their needs.
Italy Short of Coal.
Italy is short OF coal. She does no,
produce any herself and Austrian and
German submarines In the AIediter-
ranean have been cutting of her sup.
plies from Wales and the United
Staten Her food supplies. moreover.
are not sufficient for her wartime
necessities. Russia has grain to spare
enough almost to make up tho
worlds deficiency The control OF
Constantinople and tho Straits by the
central powers. however. has kept this
surplus from reaching the outer world
which needed it SO sorely. Russia
needs manufactured goods. particular
ly railroad equipment. Great Britain
and France-particularly the former
need staple foods. particularly meats.
Argentina. on the other hand. has mea,
and grain to spare. but she needs
manufactured products.
1t Is now proposed that the big
populous nations which have the
greatest stake in tho war get together
and thoroughly canvass the world sit
uation as to food. Then, by a friend
~ policy OF give and take. Of .ex-
changing surplus for surplus. they can
eQualizc and stabilize living conditions
among their respective peoples. And
II Is an absolute certainty that no peo-
pie, belliserent or neutral will survive
this war untouched by It's losses ana
injuries.
OF course such an eminently sensible
and progressive agreement as this
will not come to an end when the
peace treaty Is signed. Like a great
many other economic reforms, forced
by the abnormal conditions OF tho
great struggle. 1t will undoubtedly re-
main. and be extended in principle,
perhaps, to the whole world.
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