The Sentinel=record., 1918-02-16
ALLIES CUT THEIR
FOREIGN TRADE SHARPLY
Licensing Of American Exports and
Imports VIII Be Handled BY the
War Trade Board Which Has
Created a Special Control and Com
mittee With Full Powers.

washington, Feb. 15-AU foreign
trade OF the United States-exports
and imports-was put under license
today by President Wilson as a part
OF general program of the American
and allied governments for releasing
ships to transport troops and supplies
to Europe.
The less essential exports and i'm
ports Will be reduced to a minimum
and materials regarded as necessary
will be transported by the shortest
hauls possible. The allies are work
ing in close cooperation with the
United States and the trade routes of
the world in many instances will be
shifted to bring the most economical
operation Of tonnage The allies al
ready have cut their foreign trade
sharply but will make further reduc-
tions as a part Of the general plan.
American representatives sitting in
London Will work with allied repre-
sentatiyes in eliminating and re-ar-
ranging ocean commerce to free
ships for war service.
Licensing of American exports and
imports will be handled by the war
trade board which has created sl)e-
cial contraband committee with final
powers in deciding the country's for
eign 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 department Of
commerce and the shipping board in
arranging trade routes.
The shipping board has formed a
special division under Dean E. r. Gay
of Harvard university TO prepare
statistical data on shipping ard COM
merce. To bring about a proper CO.
ordination between the shipping board
and the war trade board IL Is likely
that a controller Of ships and cargoes
viii 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
proeram into effect as gradually as
rossible. in view of the imperative
need of diyerting vessels to the war
zone.
American ships taken out of the
non-hazardous trades and put into
transatlantic service will be re-
n1aced. where It can be done by neu-
trail tonnage for which the govern
mont ia now negotiating. This ton
mage will not fill the need entirely
however, and licenses for goods re-
garded as nom essential will not be
granted.
Control Of exports and imports ana
of bunker coal by the United States
and the allies gives them control OF
neutral tonnage and officials predict
that virtually all the ocean going
ehips owned by the neutrals viii be
in the American and allied services
before many months.
Officials declined to speculate to-
night on the CndTbtS III iOuVAt+'
Americas foreign commerce likely tc
grow out Of measures to be put int
force 1t is known. however, that the
trade board is inclined to turn tc
Latin-America for more materials and
to cut correspondingly the country
trade with the Orient 1t is probable
that many articles such as rugs an'
art objects now received from Japar
land China viii not be granted impor
licenses. II is likely that as many
raw materials as possible Will p'
brought from the south.
Americas trade balances will be ef-
fected considerably by distribution
OF commerce and one of the concerns
of the government is TO maintain then
on as favorable basis as possible.
{ Control ever exports and import
win be used to bargain with both th