The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-03
NEUTRAL
 NATIONS YIELD
 TO U. U.S.DEMAND
Norway, Sweden and Holland Take Steps to End
 Food Embargo.

 washington, Aug. 3.-First effects or the proposed food rationing plan or in northern Europe by the United States were noted yesterday when Norway offered to guarantee that supplies shipped to her would not be forwarded to Germany and Ill re- turf, for food offered a million tons or shipping for use in coastwfse trade. Holland also offered to exchange ships for food, but desired that any ships loaned to the United States should not be used in the war zone. Sweden placed sweeping restrictions upon e1- ports.
 The United States, on the other hand made it plain that 1t is in ear- nest in it's determination that food stufns sent from this country shall not directly or by indirection, be used to assist the enemy in carrying on war Notes were handed to dtplo- matic representatives, of each of the neutrals, asking full information as to food conditions in their respective countries. So great are their emer- gencies that immediate replies are anticipated.
 The American governments plans for rationing the neutrals through It's
  termined on after replies are received. The information sought concerns the exact food needs of those countries, their food production capacity and details of their export and import trade of the last few years.
 The intention of the United States Is to hold food exports to the neu- trals to the barest necessities to pre- vent American foodstuffs or food they replace from reaching Germany. Only actual food deficiencies will be made up from America, and assurances will be demanded that no American pro- duced food is re-exported or used to supplant food that is exported. At present no shipments to the neutrals are permitted to leave American. ports and some of the couneries are badly in need of grains.
 Norway's case was put before this government yesterday by Dr. Fridt- | jof Nansen, head of the Norwegian mission, who declared his country is facing starvation. Norway wants SUI gar, fats and grain, Dr. Nansen re- | ported.
 | MT. Van Rappard, the Dutch Minis ter, said his government was ready to devote 80000 tons to the transporta- I United States would allow Holland to have foodstuffs for her own use. The Dutch merchant marine consists o1 about a million tons. Hollands un- willingness to have her ships go into ithe danger zone, the minister said | was because of her great colonia trade.
 It is understood that the new expor1 regulations issued by the Swedish gov. lernment yesterday, the purpose O. which evidently is to prevent brass Head, copper. nickel and other bas, metals leaving the country, will b, followed by similar orders from tn, Iother Scandinavian countries and b, Holland.
 As Norway's exports are chiefly fisl and her principal industry is shippin, 1.-the Nansen mission hopes to arrive a "a working agreement with the Unite, lStates similar to that reached witt iGreat Britain, whereby a certain per lcentage of the catch may be exporte, to Germany in return for the Norwe lgian bottoms.
 | Conditions in Norway, Dr. Nanse said, are such that there is practical no smuggling into Germany. Ther
 is food enough for the present in No1 way, he said, but unless exports ar
 permitted from the United States. tn l. conditions will be deplorable.
 Norway wants coal and iron froi
 England because the short haul fro,
 English ports would make more shir available for the longer voyage to tn
 country. The Norwegians will agre l to carry nothing for themselves nc I classed as necessities. No ships al
 tied up now, but are carrying for tt
 Allies with government insurance at
 very high rate
 There is a definite understandir
 between the Scandinavian countri,
 regarding cooperation. Their ec, homie interests are not the same. b, they fully realize the advantage ar : necessity of keeping together at tn time and definite agreement W.
 reached between the governments tn
 they should act together in extern , affairs.
 Il The Norwegian missions plan procedure here is to make as clear , . possible Norway's needs and to a krtra~ asresueut, Wh