The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-10-16
WILSON GIVEN =
VAST POWERS
Diplomats Aghast at Au-
thority Enemy Trading
Act Confers.

The powers granted President
Wilson under the trading with the
enemy act and functioned under his
ssccutive order OF yesterday give
him more authority than any other
executive or ruler in the world.
This was the opinion among al
lied and neutral diplomats and COM
mercial experts here. They stood
ghast at the breadth Of power
which Mr.. Wilson may exercise.
They admitted that the law and the
executive order make the United
states the absolute dictator Of the
worlds supplies.
There are certain essential COM
n1odities possessed only by the
United States and without one or
more of which no nation can well
get on. Under the definitions Of an
enemy" and an ally of an enemy
the United States cannot permit the
export OF these essentials to any
country, firm or person who trades
in. or who may reasonably be sus-
pected of trading" in Germany or
the territory OF any. Of her allies.
Blacklist Expected.
The passage of the act and the
exercise OF its powers by the Presi-
dent is expected to result in a
blacklist of persons and firms with
which no American may trade.
Such a blacklist is almost de-
mended by the law. 1t Will escape
the objections lodged against sim
liar devices by Great Britain. be-
cause. while Great Britain sought
Eg,t
she had no proper Jurisdiction, the
United States in this case is merely
directing the uses OF her own prop
eTty to the winning OF the war.
The War Trade Board has issued
en- order which requires of all Amer
lean firms with branches abroad q
formal agreement that goods licensed
% them for export to branches will
rot thence be re-exported either in
original or changed form.
Hits South Americans.
1t is pointed out that this policy
will efrectually prevent any firm in
the United States from doing busi-
ness with firms in the northern
neutral or South American nations
who are in turn suspected Of DOING
e-@AA-S1S "-NA+ NCA many VI any Ol
her allies.
The neutral diplomats who have
been negotiating here for the fooc
ard fuel which they so vitally neeC
insist that the negotiations are pro-
sreSsing satisfactorily. This is taker
TO mean that they Will eventual,
Yield to the demands OF the United
States with regard to the restriction
Of their trade with Germany.
That the United States cannot Weld
and that to permit supplies TO go &c
the countries and firms which ars
trading With Germany would be a
direct violation OF the mandates o.
the United States law.
As the United States Is bound by M
necessity to export her assets anc
the neutrals are bound by the strict
est necessity to get them, il is be-
lieved that the neutrals will have t.
yield.
Far-reaehIns Effects.
The policy is likely to have a far
reaching effect in South America
Taken in conjunction with the mes.
sages OF the Secretary OF State Il
Uruguay and Peru, commencing these
nations for their break with Ger.
many the executive order is looked
upon as plain notice to Argentina
and Chile that they had better fall
in line Argentine grain can not be
marketed without American coal and
oil. and American coal and oil can
not be SUPPLIED u:.lsss the United
States is satisHs4 that it will not
make steam TO carry these supplies
where Germany can reach them.