Evening star., 1917-10-03
NEW british BAN
TO HIT GERMANY
Restrictions Imposed on Ex-
ports to Scandinavia and
Holland.
TRADE PACTs DOOMED

Great Britain's new embargo on ship
r,ents of practically everything to Swe-
den. Norway. Denmark and the Neither
lands is regarded here as a most impor-
.ant move in tightening the Gordon which
slowly but surely is killing the military
power of Germany.
Coming close on the export embargo OF
the United States. which is being admins
tered to keep from the European neutrals
everything that might supply the central
powers, Great Brta ms action IS recarsled
as one of the most important of the wa.
As the British embargo exclud as ever;-
thing except printed matter, about the
only thing that will he permitted to go 10
the German people by way of neutrais will
be expressions of world opinion that they
should reorgan:ze their system of gov .rr-
nrent to do away with the military au-
tocracy.
In tigurative sense Great Britain hclds
one end of the rope and the United States
holds the other. Gradually but surely as
it is being drawn taut, the military power
of Germany is being strangled. because.the
embargo cuts off the supplies she has been
receiving through the adjacent neutrais.
Trade Pacts Forsaken.
Great Britain's embargo also is regarded
by government officials here as denouncing
trade agreements entered into since the
beginning of the war, preparatory to iden-
tic action. Such q step had been expected.
1t is not believed there is any inten-
intention to cut off absolutely trade be-
tween those neutrals and the allied
governments. but that the suppressng
of the agreements under which ex-
changes of commodities have been
made will be amended in order that
they may conform to conditions slowly
changed during the war and which
have been radically altered by the en-
trance Of the United States.
1t was pointed out that radical re-
vision of the old trade agreements had
become absolutely necessary and that
the expenditure of the lives of thou
sands of men and of billions of dollars
while the enemy was being proVisioned
through neutral channels was obviously
a condition that could not be counte-
nanced.
Exports Are Prohibited.
LONDON. October 3-The Gazette
prints a proclamation prohibiting the
eXportation to Sweden. Norway Dem
mark and the Netherlands of all ar
ticles except printed matter of all de-
scriptions and personal effects accom-
panied by their owners.
London Papers Puzzled.
Last nights proclamation in the Of
Hcisil LdZellc lHt ekpOTLa>
tion to Holland and Scandinavian coun-
tries of all articles. except printed mat
ter and personal effects, has caused-th
greatest puzzlement in newspaper. Of
fees here.
Owing to existing agreements for the
exchange of commodities with those
countries noGe can believe that the
proclamation means what it apparently
says. Some interpret its meaning to
be that>nothing shall be exported ex-
cept under license.
The English newspapers recently have
been criticising ofiiciaidom for issuing
statements in such complicated form
that they are not understandable. The
Times admits it is unable to interpret
the meaning of this proclamation.
Although heretofore exports to Hof-
land and Scandinavia have been under
strict supervision by the British an
thorities. the new proclamation, doubt
less means that these countries now
will suffer more poignantly than ever
for the necessities of which theYhave
been short since the American embargo
went into effect.