Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-11
NORWAY TO GET SPECIAL
TREATMENT As NEUTRAL
United States Ready to Deal Liber-
ally In Matter Of FoodstufYs
and Other Commodities.
treasured BY DIR. NANsEN
Admits Past Laxity Of His Govern
ment, by Which Germany Profited,
but Gives Pledge to Prevent Inn
ports Reaching Teutonic Allies.

WASHINGTON. September 17.-Nor-
way Is likely to fare hotter than other
neutral under the rulings of the ex-
ports administrative board. DR.. Frid-
t1of hansen, head of the Norwegian
economic mission. is understood to-day
to have made such strong guarantees
that the United States is ready to
deal literally with his government In
the matter OF foodstuffs and other
commodities needed.
Other neutrals likely will not re-
ceve the same consideration. 1t was
stated authoritatively. For months
tho State Department has known that
certain OF the neutrals outside of
Sweden were not adhcring strictly to
their professed neutrality. Norway
has received protests against some or
tho things OF benefit to Germany .nat
have slipped by Norwegian officials.
DR.. Manson came hero expressly to
straighten out this complication.
1t is stated on highest authority that
DR.. hansen admitted that in the past
there had been negligence In dealing
with imports from the United States.
Because of this laxity. Germany prof
ited to \ large extent in the way of
&
But this has been ended. 1t is said.
LICENSE WILL he ISSUED
WITHIN NEXT FEW DAYS
Tho Norwegian government to-day
stands pledged absolutely to prevent
any imports from reaching Germany
or her allies. The exact nature Of the
pledges are known only to the State
Department and members Of the ex-
ports board. but 1T is stated tina. they
are 80 well thought of that licenses
for number OF carEocs destined for
Norwegian ports will be issued within
a few days.
DR.. Nansen's frankness in admitting
tho la1ity of his government at earlier
stages In the war and his assurances
that such breaches will not occur in
the future are said to have made a
deep and favorable impression upon
this government. AS one Official put
1t To-Day. ''the Norwegians did not
come over hero with the idea of put
ting something over. as has been the
case in some instances"
The chances of Holland getting the
use OF any OF her grain ships for at
least two months. IL at all. have dimin-
ished with the exposure made by Sec
retary Lansing. While the exports
board and the shipping board have
been aware all along Of the informa-
ton In the hands of the State DEPART
ment. IT was felt that no decisive
action should be taken until Secretary
Lansing was ready to spring his coup.
The disclosures with regard to Swed-
ems breaches OF neutrality were said
to-day to forecast drastic action by
every branch of the government to
prevent absolutely the importation OF
all commodities to neutrals where sat
isfactory guarantees were not forth
coming.
COMMUNICATING ONLY STEP
OPEN TO THIS GOVERNMENT
The first step in this new policy
likely will be the communicating OF
the $50 Dutch ships now held In Amer
lean ports. While neither officials Of
this government nor members of The
special mission from the Netherlands
will make any statement. II is gener-
ally understood that no satisfactory
progress has been made in the ne
sotiations for using the Dutch ships
to aid In provisioning the world. as
suggested by the exports board. and
that Communicating is practically the
only step left for this government ia
take