The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-26
GERN1ANY,s BACK Door.

Neutral countries of Europe are
protesting vigorously against the plac-
ing of an embargo on exports by the
United States. According to a bulletin
issued by the Philadelphia CONNER
cial Museum, in the ten months end
ing with April, 1914, the value of tine
exports from the United States to
Denmark, the Netherlands. Norway
and Sweden was 1925. 100000. In the
corresponding ten months ending with
April, 1917. the value was $21e,OOO,-
900.
The Scandinavian countries and the
Netherlands naturally had very close
trade relations with Germany prior to
the war. They depended upon that
country to supply very large pro-
portion of the goods which they were
required to import. When the war
broke out in August, 1914, Germany,
prompted by home requir <ments,
stopped the shipment of some OF these
commodities altogether, and greatly
restricted the supply of others. SINH
larly, these four countries had been
depending upon the United Kingdom
Cor large part of their supplies And
for the same reasons that Germany
curtailed shipments, and with the
edded purpose of preventing supplies
from reaching Germany indirectly, the
United Kingdom resorted to restrictive
measures which very greatly reduced
exports to these countries. In the
same manner, but by reason of inter-
1P
Russia were shut off, particularly of
grain.
Some of the enlarged articles
which Scandinavia and the Neither
lands had been obtaining from Ger
many. the United Kingdom, Russia
and other nearby countries prior to
the war could be dispensed with: 9TH
ors were indispensable to the welfare
of the four countries affected. With
the outbreak of the war there came a
call to the United States to make up
this supply of necessities, and this
country responded. That explains in
part the larger trade which the United
States has been doing with the Scan
dinavian countries and the Neither
lands since the outbreak of the war.
On the other hand, and taking ad-
vantage of the abnormal conditions
end of opportunities which proximity
to Germany offered. there is no doubt
that these four countries have been
drawing supplies from the United
states greatly in excess of their own
requirements, and re-exporting that
excess to Germany. Some of this re-
export trade was what might be called
direct, in that there was no change in
the commodities, except possibly their
packing, prior TO shipment to Ger
many. 1t was comparatively easy to
trace this trade and early in the war
the United Kingdom took measures to
cut it off. with the result that bust
ness of this character has been re-
duced to a minimum.
But there has been another part OF
this trade from the United States to
Germany via Scandinavia ana the
Netherlands which has been more diff
! blockade to prevent. For example
how much of the corn and other feed
stuffs which has been shipped from
the United States to these four coun-
tries has Leen used to fatten the ma
tive cattle, and the meats, but -er and
fsts therefrom then sent to Germany
Or, how many more bushels of pota-
toes and how much other produce
have those countries been able 20 sell
to Germany. which they couIc moi
have. spared had it not been possible
for them to get wheat and other food
in abundance from the United State:
to take the place of locally srowr
products?
The quantity of commodities pass
ing thru the back door into Germany
has been considerable and must b,
reduced as far as practicable.
The disturbing circumstances pre-