Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-06-28
President Launches New Body
of Great Power.
ALL OUTGOING GOODS LICENSED


Officers Members.
Washington June 26-President
Wilson by executive order created the
exports embargo council-a board
which will pass upon every ounce Of
foodstuffs leaving the United States
for neutral nations.
1t is composed of four men-Secre-
tary Of State Lansing, Secretary of
Commerce Redfeld, Secretary of Agri-
culture Houston and the food admin
istrator." This latter will be Herbert
c. Hoover. He is not personally named
in the Presidents proclamation as
congress has not yet established the
food administration bureau
Wilson Makes Statement.
President Wilson issued a statement
explaining just what the exports coun-
Gil is expected to accomplish.
There will be little check put upon
the volume of exports" the President
stated, and he makes the point that
the principal object to be attained
will be to see that our allies and their
armies are fed so that the war may be
fought successfully.
at is important" the Presidents
statement reads, that the country
should understand just what is in
tended in the control of exports which
is about to be undertaken, and since
the power is vested by congress in the
PRESIDENT, / can speak with authority
concerning it. The exports council
will be merely advisory to the Presi-
dent.
There will, of course, be no prohi-
bition of exports. The normal course
of trade will be interfered with as lit
tie as possible and so far as possible,
only its normal course directed The
whole object will be to direct exports
in such a way that they will go first
and by preference where they are
most needed and most Immediately
needed, and temporarily to withhold
them, if necessary where they can
best be spared.
"Our primary duty in the matter of
foodstuffs and like necessaries is to
see to it that the peoples associated
proportion as possible of our surplus;
but it will also be our wish and pur-
pose to supply the neutral nations
whose peoples depend upon us for
such supplies as nearly in proportion
to their need as the amount to be pro-
vided permits
There will thus be little check put
upon the volume of exports and the
prices obtained for them will not be
affected by this regulation
Trade to Be Licensed.
'This policy will be carried out, not
by prohibitive legislation, but by a
system Of licensing exports which will
be as simply organized and admins
tered as possible, SO as to constitute
no impeachment in the normal flow of
commerce. In brief, the free play of
trade will not be arbitrarily interfered
with, it will only be intelligently and
Systematically directed in the light of
full information with regard to the
needs and market conditions through
out the world and the necessities of
our people at home and our armies
and the armies of our associates
abroad
"The government is taking or has
taken steps to ascertain for example,
just what the available present supply
of wheat and corn is remaining
from the crops of last year;
to learn from each of the countries
exporting these foodstuffs from the
United States what their purchases in
this country now are, and where they
are stored, and what their needs are,
in order that we may adjust things so
far as possible to our own needs and
free stocks; and this information is
in course of being rapidly supplied.
''The case Of wheat and corn will
serve as an illustration of all the rest
of supplies of all kinds. Our trade car
be successfully and profitably conduc-
ted now, the war pushed to a victori-
Gus issue, and the needs of our own
people and of the other peoples with
whom We are still free to trade eff
GENTLY met only by systematic direc-
ton; and that is what will be attempt.
ed"
Council Has World Power.
The exports embargo council which
will administer these provisions of the
espionage act dealing with embargo
constitutes one of the most powerful
bodies in the history of the United
States. No food can go to neutral ma
tions without first receiving a license
from the council. No ship may clear
with cargoes not licensed by this
board. 1t will consider the food situa-
ton in its national and international
aspect. 1t will study supplies and de-
mands at home; the demands of the
allies; and then divide the residue