The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-09-06
WILSON ACTS TO
SEALUP GERMANY
Issues Embargo Proclamation
to Bar United States Prod
uctS From Foe
MEANS RATIONING POLICY
Licenses Now Required on All Raw
Materials Entering Into Manufacture
OF Expiosives-Needs of America
tand Allies to Come First.

Washington.-Pres Wilson is
sued proclamation which gives the
Government control over every pos
sible commodity exported from the
United States.
1t is the most drastic step for eco.
nomic control taken by any nation
during the war. The President in a
statement accompanying the proclama.
tion insists that he aims at control
and not at the actual stoppage of ex.
ports. But the manner in which the
proclamation Is divided makes its pur.
pose certain.
All articles OF commerce must be
licensed for export to enemy countries
ana the countries OF the European
neutrals. This will give the United
States for the first time control over
certain munitions and money sent to
the neutrals.
The list OF commodities for which
license is required for export to the
rest Of the world is widely extended.
The administration OF the proclama-
ton. except as 1t refers to coins.
bullion and currency, is placed in
the hands OF the exports administra-
tive board. This board a few days
ago had no authority to act. It's mem
bers, headed by Vance Mccormick,
chairman. advocated a strict ration
ing system with regard to Allies and
neutrals alike.
The embargo council. composed Of
members of the Cabinet. were divided
on the subject, with Secretary of State
Lansing holding out for a policy that
would not antagonize neutrals. The
administrative board made an appeal
to President Wilson. which was fol.
lowed by an executive order giving all
powers TO it's members, and taking
control away from the Department OF
Commerce. which heretofore had act
ed with Secretary Lansing.
The administrative board took ac.
tive charge OF the embargo situation
Immediately upon issuance OF the
Presidents proclamation. The board
will establish branch offices in New
York Boston, Chicago, st. Louis. New
Orleans. San Francisco and Seattle
where application for export licenses
can be presented. 1t is suggested that
applications for licenses be sent in
two weeks before the proposed date
of shipment to prevent delay.
The first order of the administra-
tive board was a ruling that specific
licenses would be required Immediate
ly hereafter for all raw materials
entering into the manufacture of ex.
plosives, so that the board may be
assured that the goods IL exported
will be used strictly for war purposes
or purposes which will directly con.
tribute to the war.
The Presidents proclamation was
accompanied by an explanation. in
which he detailed the difference be-
tween divisions established in naming
the commodities coming under the
ruling
The purpose and effect Of this proc.
lamation Is not export prohibition but
merely export control. the President
states. 1t is not the intention 20 in
terfere unnecessarily with our foreign
trade. but our own domestic needs
must be adequately safeguarded and
there is the added duty Of meeting
the necessities of all the nations at
war with the Imperial German Gov
ernment. After these needs are met.
It is our wish and intention to ad-
minister to the needs OF the neutral
nations as far as our resources per.
NIT This task will be discharged
without other than the very proper
qualification that the liberation OF our
surplus products shall not be made
the occasion OF benefit to the enemy.
either directly OF indirectly.
State Department circles are per-
turbed over persistent reports Sweden
is planning to call a conference OF
neutrals as a result OF Americas en-
barge on business with the European
uoutra1e