The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-16
Less Essential Commodities Will Be Reduced to Mini
 mum to Save Shipping
SHORT HAUL SYSTEM
 TO BE INAUGURATED
Allied Countries Are Working in Close Co-Operation and Ocean Routes Will Be Shifted
 as Need Is Seen

Washington, February 15.-An for cign trade of the United States, ex- ports and imports, was put .under license today by President Wilson ns a part of a general programme of the American and allied governments for releasing ships to transport troops and supplies to Europe.
 The less essential exports and iin- ports will be reduced to 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 route of the world in many instances will be shift ed to bring the most economical oper- ation of tonnage:
 The allies already have cut their for eign trade sharply, but will make fur ther reductions as apart of the gen. eral plan. American representatives sitting in London will cooperate with allied representatives in arranging ocean commerce to free ships for war service
 SYSTEM EXPLAINED
 Licensing of American exports and imports will be handled by the war trade board, which has created spe- cial contraband committee with final powers in deciding the countrty'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 special division under Dean E. F. Gay of Harvard university to prepare sta tistical data shipping and com merce. To bring about a proper CO., ordination between the shipping board and the war trade it is likely that control of ships and cargoes will be named to see that ships are used in the most economical manner.
 NO HASTY DECISION
 There will be no hasty decisions, it was said tonight, in determining what exports and imports are to be elin- mated. Traders interested will be given hearings and the plan is to put the programme into effect as quick as possible in view of the imperative need of diverting American ships taken out Of the nonhazardous trades and put into transatlantic service will be re- placed where it can be done by neu- tral tonnage for which the government now is negotiating. This tonnage will not fill the need entirely, however and licenses for goods regarded as non- essential will not be grantedN
 Control of exports and imports and of bunker coal by the United States and the allies given them control of neutral tonnage and officials predict that virtually all the ocean, going ships owned by the neutrals will be in the American and allied service before many months.
 NO SPECULATION
 Officials declined to speculate to- night on the changes in routing of America's foreign commerce likely to grow out of measures to be put into force. It is known, however, that the war trade board is inclined to turn to Latin America for more materials and to cut correspondingly the coun- trys trade with the orient. It is prob able that many articles, such as rugs and art objects, now received from Japan and China, will not be granted import licenses. It is likely that as many raw materials as possible will be brought up from the south. Americas trade balances will be af- fected considerably by redistributing commerce and one of the concerns of the government is to maintain them on as favorable basis as possible. Control over exports and imports will be used to bargain with both the | allies and the neutrals for products the i uhlted States must have to prosecute the war.