The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-07-13
EMBARGO ORDER IS
ISSUED BY WILSON
NOTICE GIVEN THAT UNITED
STATES HAS TAKEN CONTROL
OF BASIC COMMODITIES.
Governments Policy viii Be, First to
Give Consideration to American
Needs and, Next, to Meet Re-
quirements of AIlies.


quirements of Allies.
Washington. ~ Government control
Of American exports. authorized in a
provision of the espionage act, was
ordered put into operation July Is by
President Wilson, with the issuance
of a proclamation. on July S. requir-
ing the licensing Of shipments to all
countries of the most important ex-
port commodities.
In a statement accompanying the
proclamation the president declared
the governments policy win be first
20 give consideration ~ american
needs: next, to meet as far as pos
sible the requirements Of the allies,
and, lastly. to supply the neutral
countries wherever practicable. Ii is
made clear that every effort will be
made to see that no supplies reach
the central powers.
The commodities named i'm the list
put under control are SJal, coke. fuel
oils, keross.asr aud gasoline. includ-
ing bunkers; food grains. flour and
meal, fodder and feeds, meats and
fats; pig iron, steel billets, ship
plates and structural shapes, scrap
iron and and scrap steel; ferro-man-
ganese, fertilizers; arms. ammunition
and explosives.
May Order Embargo.
The inclusion of fo0lstuffs in the
NJ lar
h1ents that the administration is CON
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of complete
embargo for sixty days on all food
shipments to give the country time
to ascertain the amount of its sup
plies and TO give allied and neutral
countries an opportunity TO present IA
full program Of their requirements.
The president in his statement said
the government was trying first 10
smeliorate present food conditions
and conditions that are expected to
arise between now ami the next har-
vest. Many officials. alarmed AT the
| wheat shortage and the heavy drain
the allies and neutrals are making on
| every kind of American food supplies,
are urging an immediate embargo. on
food shipments.
Will Watch Shipping.
Through control OF coal and fuels
the government intends to take ,
firm grasp on shipping. An arrange
ment under negotiation Will give tn
American and British government
control of not only all allied tonnag
but of neutral vessels as Well Ship
now on runs not regarded as nece,
sary TO Il successful conduct of I'll
war will be forced into trades consi,
cred more essential and vessels no
held in port through fear of suhm;
rine attack will be required to go il
to service
Control of iron and steel was mad
necessary by war demands on tn
iron and steel industries A shortag
of steel in this country is Threatened
because of the large amount that Il
being diverted TO munitions manu-
facturers. the construction of th,
governments mercantile fleet.
JapanS heavy purchase OF steel
| plates for merchant shiphulidng
made necessary that plates be PUT I'M
der control. At the same time. this
action gives the government weapon
with which to force japanese tonnage
into the transatlantic trades
Ppeeific regulations governing food
exports and shipments of other com
nodities named in this list are
expected TO be issued by the president
h a few days.
Even if a complete embargo is not
paced on food exports for time. ii
is known many restrictions will be
made. The exports council, compris-
ing three cabinet members and the
food administration, is drawing up
program to be submitted to the
president Immediately.