New-York tribune., 1917-07-10
Declares scandinavian Aid
Is Permitting Germany
to Hold Out
Urges Strict Embargo
Writer Says Sealing Up of
North Sea Will End
the War

washington, July 9.-lsaac +. Mar
cosson, magazine writer. who has Just
returned from five months abroad, said
to-day that almost every week 10000
head Of cattle, fattened on fodder OBJ
tanned in large measure from the
United States, are shipped by Denmark
to Germany.
Mr.. Marcosson called the Presidents
embargo proclamation the most impor-
tant step yet taken by the United
States in the war
The writer had long talk with DR..
Edward Ewing Pratt, chief OF the
United States Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce. Following the
conference, Mr.. Msrcosson discussed
the trade between the Scandinavian
countries and Germany and the effect
the embargo will have on these coun-
tries. He said:
The United States could not have
taken more definite or drastic step
toward ending the war than by clamp
ing the lid down hard on exports to
neutral Europe. No phase of Americas
participation in the war is more i'm
portant. One reason why Germany mas
been able to hold out so miraculously
is that she has been able to get food
stuffs and supplies through neutrals.
Among the chief sellers have been the
Scandinavian peoples.
Norway Trading with Germany
Let me illustrate: The other day |.
saw four German merchant vessels in
the harbor at Bergen, Norway. They
were not even painted the regulation
war gray. but had the gayly painted
tunnels and hulls of peace times. The
ships had successfully run the block
ade and brought manufactured articles
to Norway. and were in turn loading
with the necessaries of life and work
for the German people. This sight I
saw duplicated At Christiania. II
means that Germany is far from being
beaten and is a force both as regards
fighting and feeding.
Nearly every week ten thousand
head of cattle are shipped from Den
mark directly into Germany. These
cattle are fattened on fodder, much of
which is shipped from the United
States. They not only provide the Ger
man people with food, but the German
army with clothing, and the German
munition makers with fats and other
necessaries for the manufacture of
munitions. II the exports of fodder
and fertilizers were prohibited, Den
mark could not continue to feed and
provide the Germans. This instance
is only one OF many that could cite.
Sweden Getting Rich
"As a matter of fact. Scandinavia
to-day regards the blockade of the
North Sea as Intellectual and, incl
dentally, as a first aid TO the greatest
prosperity it has ever known. By this
| mean that the rich Swedes are get
ting richer all the time, despite the
fact that the poor Swedes are becom-
ing poorer. The reason for this is
that Sweden is straining her exports
to Germany TO the utmost, which is
boosting the cost of living TO a degree
almost incredible.
"In other words, America has been
playing directly into the hands of the
food profteers in all the Scandinavian
countries, more especially in Sweden
and Denmark, and aiding Germany at
the same time.
$50 long as America was a neutral
country, the blockade was a thorn in
Great Britain's side and could not be
effectual. Now that we are lined up in
the great war, the chief obstacle to a
complete tie-up of the North Sea is re-
moved. 1t is only by this means that
food and supply smuggling into Ger
many can be stopped for good"