The sun., 1918-02-25
FAST FORGING
ECONOMIC RING
ROUND TEUTONS
War Trade Board Reports
Big Drop in Foods Neu-
trails Export to Foe.
s. TO 83 PER CENT. LOWER
Arrangements Made to Utilize
100000 Tonnage for
Americas Allies.
Spe,ioi Despateh 10 TIN Si>

>pt't" Despnfch 10 Inn 81 y.
WAsHINGToN. Feb. 24.--The success OF
the War Trade Board in tightening the
economic ring about Germany and her
allies is shown by its first annual report
to the. President. made public to-day
IN addition i; reviews the accomplish
nent in obtaining for tho United States
and the Allies the service OF a large
tonnage OF neutral shipping long tied up
in American harbors by the enlbargoes
put down Immediately following the dec
laratiou OF war.
Speaking of the northern European
neutrals the report states:
1T is shown that exports Of foodstuffs
to the Central Powers by the northern
European neutrals have declined from
last years figures in an amount esti-
mated at from So to SIS per cent. and
that there has been decrease in the
export Of many other important COM
modities. particularly those essential TO
munitions making
The report reveals mobilization OF the
economic arm OF the United States and
the effective use Of trade restraints on
the central Powers. 1t is indicated.
however. that every effort is being made
to avoid even the appearance of CO.
ercion or retaliation in our relations
with the neutral countries.
agreements Made With Neutrals.
With all of the neutrals contiguous
10 the Central Powers agreements have
been concluded or ave being negotiated
by the board which are designed TO
prevent acute food or economic srfier-
ing in these countries and at the same
time to prevent their falling under the
economic power of the enemy. In addi-
= a
allies the benefit Of additional ship ton
cutioa OF the war.
The boards accomplishment in getting
ship tonnag. and in controlling enemy
, trading is shown in TIE following Sec
tons:
I'm November. 1917. We became n
party TO Great Britains tentative agree
inent vita Norway, as a result OF which
action on our part l.ior.ouu tons dead
weight OF Norwegian shipping were char
tered into the service Of the United
states and Great Britain FOR the period
of the war.
Shortly following temporary agree.
ments We're concluded with Holland and
with sweden. That with Holland gives
Us the use for periods up to ninety days
OF 45o 900 tons dead weight Of her ship
ping which had heretofore for a Ions
period lain idle. The agreement will
sweden gives us the use for three
months Of tonnage estimated at $50, ,00(
tons dead weight. which had not beer
employed in service uscfu! to us
Enemy Advantages stopped.
Specific accomplishments nf tni.
character are, however, far from cousti,
iuting full measure Of all the result.
achieved by the War Trade Poori. The
tnmnation of enemy adVau'n., fro'r
our trade and to n considerable extent
r"nn' 4 AT OF tho world. the securil- a..
conserving ~ commodities essential tC
ourse,N.s and those associated w. II
IN the war, tho bringing of shippIn- '.rr
ciallN into the services most useful !
us, those results cannot he acCurdi.l'
stated or appraised nj the present time
nor have thcv l., eli accompl' 'hCd rs IN,
single act OF agreement
Abolition Of calls at Haitian 10Y ,hGr
sailing between United States and Euro
pean retural ports, which !. frrcshad
owed in u paragraph dealing with ell
,ieayors OF the board ia reduce III. u,C
cssary control machinery oyer sailags
has been accomplished.
Letters OF assurance" 'i,rclutUr" :,
sued hy ihc British EmhA.S! are y
lager required.