The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-08-07
WILSON EMBARGO
ON FOOD EXPORTS
Anglers GERMANS
Small Nations Forced to "COm-
bative Measures" Says
WeSer Zeitung.

The Hague, Aug. THE, German
press has been printing scathins arti-
cles on Americas export measures.
Wilson's Brutal Methods" Starving
the Little Neutrals,' "Neutrals in Will
sons Thumbscrews," and How Will
son Assaults Neutrals," are examples
of the headlines used for such abuse,
which is undoubtedly intended to
make the little neutrals'' still more
disgruntled.
The Weser Zeitung, shipping and
annexationist organ, has two columns
on the subject. The paper first de-
scribes Wilson's "unneutral policy be-
fore the declaration OF war, saying
that in spite of this extraordinary
policy many Germans believed in
him.
People though him a theorist and
doctrinaire," says the Zeitung, but
one who was nevertheless convinced
| international law and the rights of
neutrals. This illusion is dissipated.
for the American government is not
only lighting actively against the Cen
trail Powers, but is also taking the
sharpest measures against the neutral
| neighbors Of Germany"
The paper continues that. even 1t
America pretends to enforce these
measures because the shortage of
foodstuffs in America is such that 1t
| is impossible to export to Europe, 1t
nevertheless has been openly admitted
that this only serves as an excuse, and
| that the real reason is to apply the
| thumbscrews to neutrals in order to
force them to give up any connections
with the Central Powers.
Certainly Wilson is not changing
| the policy that he followed when he
still upheld so-called neutrality" says
| the Zeitung, "but his conduct de-
cfsively contradicts international law,
which he holds so high"
The paper argues that a war OF
starvation is itself Illegal, bat that a
much worse infringement of neutral
rights consists In President Wilson's
attempt to force neutral states to take
certain combatant measures against
| the other side, and it makes no diff
ference whether the measures are
| economic or military. The paper
adds that the only difference between
| Wilson'S action against the northern
neutrals and the Entente's action
against Greece is that Wilson's meas
| ures are only economic while the En-
| tente's were economic and military
| Wilson himself is pronounced guilty
of having failed to protect a neutra,
when King Constantine appealed tc
| him.
Already occasional voices in the
Netherlands and Sweden have declar-
| ed that they have no desire to be
treated like Greece the Zeiutng says
shut the American government goes
| it's way Systematically reducing the
| supply of necessary raw materials te
| those European neutrals which will
not serve American purposes. Ameri.
ca intends thereby to exert an infiu.
enee on the attitude of neutrals to-
ward bel1igerents. This, however, Il
| an, interference With the free will o.
| the neutrals in direct opposition to :.ht
| law of nations"
| The writer of the article, a German
| international jurist, DIR. Noeideke, de.
clares that the utilization of a hun
| ger threat" against neutrals makes
| the American action worse. He doe:
| not believe that the neutral states will
be able any longer to make effective
protest and holds that the United
| States, which should have led the wa.
In defense of neutral rights. has com
| p1etely failed because 1. is now alb
| so1utely evident that Wilson, like thu
rest, only employed the protection O.
neutrals as convenient excfise.'5
! Commenting on the same subject
| the semi official Cologne Gazette say
| the Wilson export regulations repre-
sent an illegal action unique in tbs
history of the civilized world Neu
| trails which merely want to carry OF
/ their trade and obtain. their food sup
| ply, says the Gazette, are to be starved
/ and condemned to unemployment JUS
because they will not obey the order,
| of the Entente.