Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-09
ORDERS EMBARGO
ON WAR SUPPLIES
President Wilson Takes Steps
to Prevent Reshipments From
NeutraIs to Germany.
EXPORTS TO BE LICENSED

| Germany will realize after July Is
how much she depends on the United
| States for food and other war supplies.
President Wilson has issued his proc
lamation requiring exports Of certain
commodities to be licensed after that
date. 1t is the putting into effect of
the powerful weapon provided in the
espionage act that is hoped to throt-
| tie the enemy. 1t will insure food sup
plies first for home. then for the allies
and lastly for the neutrals. Tho neu-
trails will got enough to keep them
from starving, but they cannot have
enough to re-export to Germany.
In a statement accompanying the
proclamation the President made 1t
clear that every effort will be made to
see that no supplies reach the central
powers.
Commodities Enumerated.
The commodities named in the list
put under control are coal, coke, fuel,
oils. kerosene and gasoline, including
bunkers: food grains. flour and meal,
iron. steel billets. ship plates and
structural shapes. scrap iron and scrap
steel: ferro-manganese. fertilizers.
arms. ammunition and explosives.
The inclusion of foodstuffs in the
proclamation lends color to statements
that the administration is considering
the advisability of a complete embargo
for sixty days on all food shipments
the amount of its supplies and to give
allied and neutral countries an op-
portunity to present full program Of
their requirements.
hA =.
the government was trying first to
ameliorate present food conditions and
conditions that ara expected to arise
between now and the next harvest.
shortage and the heavy drain the allies
and neutrals are making on every
kind Of American food supplies, are
urgtnS an immediate embargo on food
shipments.
Firm Grasp on Shipping.
Through control Of coal and fuels the
government intends to take a firm
grasp on shipping. An arrangement
under negotiation will give tho Ameri-
Of not only all allied tonnage. but Of
neutral vessels as we'll. Ships now on
runs not regarded as necessary to a
successful conduct of tho war will be
sential. and vessels now held in port
through fear Of submarine attack will
be required to 60 into service.
Control Of iron and steel was made
necessary by war demands ON the iron
and steel industries. A shortage of
steel in this country 10 threatened be-
cause of the large amount that 10 be-
ing diverted to munitions manufac-
ture and the construction of the gov
ernment's merchant fleet. Japan's
merchant ship building made necessary
that plates be put under control. At
the same time this action gives the
government a weapon with which TO
force Japanese tonnage into the trans
atlantic trades.
Specific Regulations.
Specific regulations governing food
exports and shipments of other COM
modities named In the list are expected
to be issued by the President within a
few days. Even II q. complete embargo
It is known many restrictions will be
made. The exports council. comprising
three cabinet members and the food
administrator, are drawing up q pro-
gram to be submitted to the President
Immediately.
One argument advanced by advocates
of a complete embargo on food ship
ments Is that tho neutral Countries and
the allies have presented entirely dif-
Of FonE from the the
neutral countries into Germany. 1t is
argued also that the neutrals cannot be
treated all alike. as varying conditions
obtain in Holland and In the Scandina-
Wan countries. The President declares
In his statement that this government
has no desire to do any injustice to
neutral countries, and intends to CO.
operate with them in adding to their
necessary supplies.
Method Of Procedure.
The method Of procedure in obtaining
license for export was outlined by Secre-
tary Redheld. who will administer the act,
as follows:
FIRST Applications for licenses may b
made to the bureau Of foreign and do
censes. 1l35 X street. Washington. d. C..
Of foreign and domestic commemorative
York, Boston. Chicago, St Louis. New
Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle
Second. In Applying for license to
export any of the commodities covered
by tho Presidents proclamation. appli
cants should give the following informa-
ton in tr1plicate form: Quantity. de-
scription Of goods. name and address Of
consignee. name and address Of consignor.
Third. The license will be good for
only sixty days. and at the expiration OF
that time must be renewed. and II not
shipped within that time a new applica~
ton must be made.
Fourth. Tho various branch Offices of
the bureau Of foreign and domestic COM
merce have been given full Instructions