The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-06-30
AIM TO WIPE OUT NEUTRALS' TRADE
 WITH GERMANY
Entente Hopes America Will Join In Forcing Com
 pliance

Washington, June 29-The preven- ton of all trade between Germany and neutral countries contiguous to her is the aim of the Entente governments. The policy of the United States has not yet been announced, and it was stated by an authority yesterday that | the details of Americas administra- ton of the legislation empowering the President to regulate all exports had not been finally decided upon. The expectation is that in broad outline the measures to be taken will be as follows:
 1-Exports of foodstuffs to Holland, Scandinavia, and Switzerland to be limited to absolute necessaries supple mental to their home production for the maintenance of those countries. 2-Denial of them of pig iron, su1- | phur, and other commodities in which l or in whose derivaties those countries have been trading with Germany. 3-Restriction of trading privileges | of the neutral countries with the AL lies unless such neutral countries pur- chase all the supplies they need from the Allies, instead of urging the ne- cessity of having to exchange food stuffs with Germany for coal and other supplies.
 Pig iron bought by Sweden in Amer ica was declared by an authority to- i day to have been intended for re-ex- port to Germany, and the Scandina- vian countries, it was alleged, had been buying sulphur in the United States to enable them to sell sulphite and sulphite pulp to Germany.
 The neutral countries were also charged with gross misrepresentation of their needs and of fragrant mani | nf f, 1~fr %1 justify their commerce with Germany, and at the same tie to assure to them lselves the continuance of their trade | with the United States. An example | cited was the recent statement con- taining a threat by a member of the | Dutch government. He asserted that if America cut off fodder used for feeding Dutch cattle, Holland would have to dispose of it's cattle east ward meaning Germany. An a1- lied diplomat remarked today that this Dutch Ministers further asser- ton that Holland possessed 15 per cent. more cattle now that at the. be- ginning of the war proved that the Netherlands were obtaining more fod- der than the country needed, and had thus been able despite the large quantity of cattle killed for food and falready sold to Germany, to increase live stock vastly by obtaining from the United States more fodder than was actually needed.
 The Entente governments have con-
 sidered thoroughly all phases of the } rationing question. These include
 the possibility of danger to England's $
 importations, from Holland and Den
 mark especially and of the effects
 upon the neutrals' policies affecting
 Germany and the Allies. There would be great dissatisfaction in the neutral countries which court the ideal of earning tremendous profits 1 from the necessities of the belliger- |. ents of both groups, and view the Il probabilities from the light of their
 own selfish interests, without regard
 for the advantages of disadvantages i, of the warning powers.
 The conclusion has been reach cd that, inasmuch as the neutrals' trade
 with the Allied nations and with the | United States, besides being indis- : pensable, of of inestimably modre value to them, they would not long hesitate between one of two courses: . First, to be shut off entirely from the privilege of trading with the United
 States and the Allies; and, second, to : give up their commerce with the Central Empires.
 Earlier in the war the genuine fear was entertained in the neutral coun-
 tries that Germany would retaliate
 upon them in a military way if they unduly restricted their trade wit, her.
 Nevertheless, the restrictions were , necessary because of the British
 blockade, which limited the imports
 into neutral Europe, and Germany . drove the best bargain possible in or der to obtain from Holland, Switzer- l land and Scandinavia not. only sup I plies of their own production, but , comm odities imported from. America, which were re-exported to Germany
 clandestnely.
 Now it is the belief of the Entente , ! governments that Germany could not, even if she desired, divert armies for
 the invasion of Holland and Denmark, whose frontiers join hers. Even , sho hould some castrophe occur which
 would make possible such invasion
 che danger in reality would be to Ger
 many and not to the countries l threatened, or to the Allies, as either
 Holland or Denmark would resist the
 invasion and doubtless furnish to the
 Allies a pass to Germany's flank and rear for land operations and naval
 bases for Allied fleets.
 It is asserted that the Entente and
 the United States are under no moral
 obligation to contribute the en-
 richment of the neutral countries
 which in their trade with Germany fa are contributing to the prolongation
 of the war, and therefore would be
 wholly justified in withholding from ] those neutrals the enjoyment of the resources and facilities of the coun- l tries at war with Germany, if they
 continue to assist that nation.
 Germany is declared to be suffer
 ing acutely from privations but it is
 said that starvation conditions do not ! yet actually prevail, although they are threatened, and would be brought
 rapidly into existence if the neutral
 countries should stop supplying her
 with foodstuffs. She would also be
 crippled in the production of war
 supplies if the neutrals should refrain
 from selling to her materials needed
 in their manufacture.
 No compulsion, according to the I correspondents informant, is coJl- i ternplated against any neutral nation,
 but all will have to make their choi ce
 of belligerents with whom to trade
 the Central Powers or the Enterte