New-York tribune., 1918-02-16
Order to Reduce Imports
and Exports to Essentials
During War
Trade Board Will
Handle All Permits
America Expected to Turn
More to Commerce With
Latin Nations

.-sdc of the United States exports and
;r,norts-was put under license to-day
br president Wilson as a part of gen.
orol nrorrammc OF the American and
,uicd Governments for releasing ships
20 transport troops and supplies to
Europe.
The less essential exports and I'M
,or.s will be reduced 20 q minimum,
and materials regarded as necessary
will be transported by the shortest
hauls possible The Allies are working
IN close cooperation with the United
States. and the trade routes of the
world in many instances will be shifted
70 bring the most economical operation
Of tonnage.
The Allies already have cut their
foreign trade sharply, but will make
further reductions as part OF the
general plan. American representa-
tiyes sitting in London will work with
Allied representatives IN eliminating
and rearranging ocean commerce to
free ships for war service.
Handled by Board
Licensing of American exports and
imports will be handled through the
War Trade Board, which has created
special contraband committee, with
final powers in deciding the coun.ry's
foreign trade policies. The board,
which already issues licenses for the
large number of commodities over
which the government has exercised
export and import control, will work
with the State Department. the Depart
ment of Commerce and the Shipping
Board in arranging trade routes.
In order to prevent congestion and
delay in shipments OF goods which
hitherto have not required export Ii
conses, the Treasury Department, at
the request of the War Trade Board.
tonight instructed collectors Of customs
to accent shippers export declarations
in lieu of licenses for goods billed
tor export and actually to be exported
before March Is.
The rule requiring individual licenses
only for certain classes of exports to
Canada and Newfoundland will be con-
tiuued in full effect under the new
rroclamations.
The Shipping Board has formed
special division. under Dean T. f. Gay,
Of Harvard University, to prepare sta
tisticai data on shipping and COM
mercc. TO bring about proper CO.
ordination between the Shipping Board
and the War Trade Board it is likely
that q controller Of ships and cargoes
will be named to see that ships are
used in the most economical manner
There will be no hasty decisions, it
was said tonight, in determining what
exports and imports are to be elimi-
mated Trades interested will be given
hearings, and the plan is to put the
programme into effect as gradually as
Is possible, in view of the imperative
need of divertng vessels to the wal
zone.
Control of exports and imports ano
Of bunker coal BY the United States
and the Allies gives them control OF
neutral tonnage, and officials predict
tnat virtually all the ocean going ships
owned by the ncutrals willy be in the
American and Allied services before
many months.
Officials declined to speculate to
night on the changes in routing OF
Americas foreign commerce likely tt
crow out of measures to be put into
forcc. 1t is known, however, that the
War Trade Board is inclined to turn &c
Latin America for moro materials ant
20 cut spondingly the country's
'radc with the Orient. 1t is probable
that many articles, such as rugs ant
art objects, now received from Japai
and China. will not be granted import
licenses. ]. is likely that as many raw
fn,.t al hi L. oxl
UP from the South.
Control over exports and imports will
be used to bargain with both the
Allies and the neutrals for products the
nited States must have to prosecute
thc war
The following explanatory Statement
was issued by the War Trade BOARD
"Thc President has to-day issued
two proclamations which will become
effective tomorrow. The purpose
and effect of these proclamations arc
to subject to control by license the
entire foreign commerce of the
United States and from and after
February l6, 1913, no commodities
may be exported from this country
or imported into this country cxcept
under license
"The President has heretofore
trolling certain exports under the
provisions of Title VII of the cspion-
age act, and one proclamation con-
trolling the importation of certain
commodities under the provisions Of
Section II of the trading with the
enemy act. The military situation
and the tonnage situation have made
Increasingly apparent the necessity
Of lnstitutlng a complete and thor
oughgoing control of all our exports
and imports
The transportation Of our armies
ia France and the maintenance of II
continued flow of the supplies and
munitions needed TO maintain them in
lighting trim. require the use OF
every ton of shipping which can
possibly be devoted to these pur-
poses. This demand must be met,
and If 1t becomes necessary to curtail
our exports or imports, these arc
measures which are forced upon US
by the critical tonnage situation and
the necessity of avaling every posi-
bic means Of maintaining our armies
IN France.
The limitation of exports is neces-
sary also to conserve the products OF
thus country for the use of our own
people and the peoples Of the nations
associated with us in the war; we
must dispose of this surplus in such
a way as to aid, as far as possible,
nose countries to the south which
nave always depended upon us: we