The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-08
II. S. MAY SEIZE
NEUTRAL SHIPS
More Than 100000 Tons Held Up in New
York-Needed for Australian
Wheat.

Washington, Sept s--More than 400.
900 tons of cargo carrying vessels flying
the flags of the neutral countries OF
northern Europe are tied up in New York
harbor and other Atlantic seaports as a
result of the embargo policy which has
been in force since July 10, and there
were persistent reports yesterday that
the government, through the United
States shipping board, might comman.
deer all these ships unless a voluntary
agreement is reached soon TO unload
them and use them in coastwise trade
and in carrying wheat and sugar from
Australia and Java
OF this large total--whch gives a com.
prehensive idea of the effect which the
embargo has had upon supplies that for
merly reached the European neutral
countries approximately 100000 tons
are of Dutch ownership. These ships
have cargoes of wheat, cattle fodder and
corn, for which the administrative board
of the exports council has refused clear
ance
The Dutch mission reached Washing
with the state department and the ex-
ports council and administrative board in
the hope of obtaining the release at least
of part OF this fleet, under the less Sc
we're conditions than those which the adj
ministrative board announced following
the efforts of the Dutch minister here
There seems, however, to be little
chance of changing the situation, and If
the Dutch government refuses to accept
compromise and help to carry cargoes
from Java and Australia, the question
of communicating by this government
may come seriously to the front
The Dutch commission includes A. G.
A. Van Ealde, former director of the gov
eminent grain bureaus Joost Vollenho.
ven and J. b. Van Der Houyen Van
Oordt Ii is accompanied by j. G. Hell |
dring and J. e. Van Der Wilen as sec
retaries. Yesterday the members were |
to call upon Secretary Lansing and ar
range for early discussion of the prob |
lens before them.
The present situation means that many
thousands of tons of foodstuffs are be-
ing tied up and are in danger of dete-
within short time to point I
NitIt lHtN VIII hHSiNos AOA
Reports received here are to the effect
that there is surplus of l50,Oe0,00O
bushels of wheat in Australia which at
present this country and its allies are
Unable to move because of the lack of
shipping The offer which has been made
% the northern neutrals is to permit
hem to have a part of this snpply-al-
hough cattle fodder is to be barred abso
utely--if compromise is accepted.
This offer has been suggested only aft
II careful investigation of the supplies
which the neutrals now have on hand
or home consumption and includes a
ystem of rationing which would make
/ practically impossible to send large
hipments of foodstuiTs into Germany.
These reports have been prepared for
he American government by it's own ex
erts The Investigations, it is said, have ,
hown that the majority of the neutrals
an get along for three months without
ctual suffering. They have also shown,
| IL said that supplies which some of
he neutrals might have boarded up were
epleted by heavy exports TO Germany
1t is possible that the shipping board a
will take direct part in
he negotiations Reports here are to the
feet that Chairman Edward n. Hurley :
to become a member of the exports
ouncil soon and that q representative .
+ the shipping board will be appointed ,
n the administrative board which has l
cen vested with most of the powers by !,
resident Wilson.
Some of the northern neutral coun ?
-ies. it is understood, have agreed to
nload a few of their ships which are u
ED up here and put them into the coast
Use trade, but up to this time the Dutch ?
overnment has remained obdurate. The
board is equally as firm n
the position taken, =