The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-11
NORWAY PROMISES
TO KEEP IMPORTANT
f0uO FROM GERMANY
Representative Frankly A d m 6
Former Laxness. But Satisfies
officials of Present Intentions.
DUTCH sH,ps MAY BE SEIZED.
United States Determined to Use Every
Available Means of and Preventing
Exports to Doubtful Neutrals.

Washington. September 1T.-Nor-
way is likely to fare better than other
neutrais under the rulings OF the ex-
ports administrative board. DIR. Fridt-
Nansenjof. head OF the Norwegian eco
nomic mission. Is understood today to
have made such strong guarantees
that the United States Ia ready to deal
literally with his government In the
matter of foodstuffs and other com
modities
Other neutrals likely will not re-
ceive the same consideration. IL was
stated authoritatively. For months
the state department has known that
certain OF the neutrals outside Of Swe-
den were not adhering strictly to their
professed neutrality. Norway has re-
ctived protests against some of the
things of benefit to Germany that have
slipped by Norwegian officials DR..
hansen came here expressly to
straiahten out this complication.
1t in stated on highest authority that
DIR. Nansen admitted that in the DE- st
there had been negligence In dealing
with imports from the United States
Because of this loyalty. Germany
profted to n large extent in the way
OF getting raw materials and food .
stuffs But. this has been ended. II is
said
The Norwegian government today
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
exports board. hut IL In stated that
~
( licenses for number of cargoes des-
tined for Norwegian ports Will be is
sued within few days
DR.. Nansen's frankness in admitting
/ the laSlty OF his government Mt earlier
stages In the war and his assurances
| that such breaches will not occur In
the future. ara said to have made a
deep and favorable impression upon
this government As one official put
i II today. the Ntrw~egiarls5 ala not
come over here with the idea OF put :
ting something over as has been the
case In some instances
The chances OF Holland getting the
nst of any OF her grain ships for al
least two months, II at all. have dirlfn
tshed with the exposure made by
Secretary Lansing While the export
board and the shipping board have
I
tion in the hands, of the state depart
| ment. 1t was felt that no decisive ac-
ton should be taken until Secretary
| Lansing was ready TO spring his coup.
The disclosures with regard to Swe-
der's breaches OF neutrality were said
today to forecast drastic action hy
every branch Of the government to
prevent absolutely the expectation OF
all commodities to neutrais where sat
isfactory guarantees were not forth
coming
The first step In this new policy
likely will be the communicating %
the $50 Dutch ships now held In
/ American ports. While neither Off
[ Gals of this government nor members
Of the special mission from the Meth
erlands will make any statement. fl is
generally understood that no satisfac-
/ tory progress has been made in the
negotiations for using the Dutch ships
to aid in provisioning the world. a.
suggested by the exports board. and
that Communicating Is pra ctically the
only step left for this government TO
take.