Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-19
WILSON TO CONTROL SHIPPING
All Foreign Commerce Now Under Ii
cense.

eense.
BY new proclamation issued Friday
President Wilson placed all exports 10
aall countries under license by the war
trade board.
The proclamation also applies the
license system 10 all imports and
thus places the entire foreign COM
merce system OF the war trade board
II is one OF the steps Of reducing ocean
carriage OF non essentials 10 release
ships for transportation OF troops and
war materials.
The following explanatory statement
was issued 10y the war trade hoard:
THE president has issued two pro-
carnations which will become effective
AT once. The purpose and effect Of
these proclamations are subject to
control by license the entire foreign
commerce Of the United States. and
from and after Feb. l6. 1918. no COM
modities may he exported from this
country or imported into this countr!
except under license.
The president has heretofore issued
several proclamationS controlling GER
tain exports under the provisions Of
title VII of the espionage act and one
proclamation controlling the importa-
tion OF certain commodities under the
provisions OF section IL Of the trad
ing with the enemy act. The military
situation and the tonnage situation
have made increasingly apparent III"
necessity Of instituting Il complete and
thorouShgOing control of all our rX-
ports and imports.
"'rhc transportation Of our armies to
France and the maintenance OF n con-
tinucd flow of the supplies and NUM-
tions. needed 10 maintain them In
fighting trim require the use OF every
ton of shipping which can possibly be
devoted tn these purposes. This de-
mand must bc met and IL ii becomes
necessary TO curtail our exports or i'm
ports, these are measures which are
forced upon us by the critical tonnage
situation and the necessity OF availing
ourselves OF every possible means OF
maintaining our armies in France.
THE limitation OF exports is neces-
sary also TO conserve the products OF
this 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 way
as TO aid. as far as possible those coun-
tries to the south which have always
depended upon us: we also must dis
pose OF our surplus in such way that
Germany and her allies will derive no
benefit therefrom: and we must secure
for ourselves i'm return shipping and
supplies urgently needed.
"'rhe PRONUNCIATION of these two pro-
carnations does not mean an embargo
on exports or a prohibition OF imports,
but places in the hands OF the presi
dent the power to regulate which he
will exercise through the war trade
board and the treasury department
This power Will he exercised win inc
single purpose OF winning the war; and
every effort will he made to avoid un-
necessary interference with our foreign
trade and TO impose upon our export
ers and importers no restrictions ex-
cept those involved in the accomplish
ment or definite and necessary OBJ
jects.
"As heretofore. licenses for the ex-
port or import of coin. bullion. curren-
cy, evidences of debt or of ownership
Of property and transfers Of credit, will
be issued by the treasury department;
licenses for all other exports and i'm
ports. including merchandise. bunkers
ships supplies, etc. will be issued by
the war trade board"