Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-18
(By q. S. strandvold, Herald Staff
Writer.1

aTeFhWE4
Beginning this week, the new regu-
lations covering American exports tc
foreign countries go into effect in ac-
| cordance with a proclamation issued
by President Wilson on July o..
Next to sending troops to France
this new step is really the most dras-
tic step this country has taken since
its entry upon the arena of war. j
may not be quite as picturesque as
the disembarkment Of soldiers at for
eign ports, and it may not appeal to
public Imagination in exactly the
same Nevertheless 1t Is q
matter Of utmost Importance to the
United States as well as to all the
countries involved, and while7th new
policy does not mean that g literal
stop will be put to commercial rela-
tons with Europe, it does mean that
the export of certain commodities
will be greatly restricted.
The American government had
come to the conclusion that this
country was feeding Germany through
neutral countries. Diplomatic and
consular representatives stationed at
neutral capitals reported to Washing
ton that vast quantities of Goa, coke.
fuel, oils, kerosene, gasoline, food
grains, flour, fodder, meats, fats, pig
iron, steel billets. shi pplates, ETC., i'm
ported from America were trans
shipped to Germany.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Spain,
Holland and Switzerland were said to
be the commercial agents of the cen
trail powers, and, realizing that a sue
cessful warfare against the enemy de-
pended upon the shutting off Of sup
plies, the United States government
decided to adopt q radical measure
against those countries.
The fact that the export embargo
includes the allies of this country is
not significant, but may be interpreted
as indicating that no favoritism will
be shown. One of the chief missions
of America in the war is to pour a
steady Stream Of necessary supplies
into the countries which are the allies
of the United States, so 1t may be
taken for granted that the clauses
covering export to England, France,
Russia, Italy and other nations in the
allied group have been inserted
merely as a matter of form.
The embargo is aimed at the neu-
trails, and Scandinavia will suffer
more than other countries because
Denmark, Norway. and Sweden really
for their supplies since the war has
made it impossible to import goods
from European countries.
1t is not to be wondered at that the
press in Scandinavia has resented the
new American policy, and a few ex-
cerpts of comments cabled from the
Scandinavian capitals will indicate
the state of public sentiment.
"Finanstidende," a leading CONNER
cial journal published in Copen-
hagen, wrote editorially on the day
following the issue of the presidents
proclamation:
1.-THE news from America is be-
coming more and more alarming for
the neutrals. If the spirit of the press
is shared by the government at Wash
ington, the position of neutral nations
by the British and French press on
the neutrality of Denmark are thrown
into the shade by the accusations
which the American press is hurting
against us. The reason for the i'll
will shown by the United States to-
ward Denmark must be sought in the
fact that that country is o acquaint-
ed with our affairs.
President Wilson has spoken beau
tiful words about the struggle for
right n humanity. How does this
conform with the stand which Amer
lea now takes against neutrals? Den
mark does not wish to join in the
conficttwith Germany into which
America has thrown herself. She has
the sole desire to maintain neutral
tty." =
The "Politiken" and the "Berling-
ske Tidende" are commenting upon
the situation in a similar vein, and
the quotation given above may be
taken as a typical expression Of the
sentiment all owe Scandinavia.
Cablegrams from Christiania and
Stockholm say that even newspapers
most friendly TO America join the
chorus Of indignant condemnation OF
the charges implied by the American
embargo proclamation. They declare
that America repeatedly protested tt
England against precisely the same
policy which Washington now threat.
ems to adopt against Norway and
Sweden.
The conservative press in the north.
ern countries looks at the situation
from another angle. The "Koeben.
havn" was reported in a Herald
cablegram last Saturday as havins
said that it resented the attacks made
~ ~vy uzx,