Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-17
GERMAN-MADE TOYS
NOW ON BLACK LIST
Some Bought and Paid For Four
Years Ago Just De-
livered.
NO ONE WANTS PLAYTHINGS
War Board Rules That They
Are American Goods Bought
Before War.
No ONE WANTS PLAYTHINGS

WASHINGTON. November 16.-How
the slow unraveling OF international
government red tape defeated the
original purpose for which that tape
was set In motion was disclosed here
when the story Of the German toys
was told to a representative by an
official of the War Trade Board.
More than four years after Ameri-
can importers had bought their toys
for the holiday.trade OF 1914 from the
factories OF Germany, those toys were
unloaded from the Holland America
liner Nicuw Amsterdam at New York.
Nobody now seems to want the lit
tie plavthinGs, because they were
Made in Germany"
But Tour years aso-well before
there were even rumors OF war-Ameri-
can toy importing houses, as was their
their 1874 supply Of dolls and other
toys which brought delight to nurseries
on Christmas morning.
on the side lines rS Our State .n f nsesri
ment was appealed to by the import
ers 10 get the goods to the United
states The importers 5howed the
government that the goods were bought
and paid for. That made them Ameri-
can goods, and nothing has transpircd
s!nce 10 change the status OF owner
ship.
But Britain interviewed She would
permit nothing to issue from, much
less reach. Germany. Her powerful
however, who saw their goods and
money tied up. made an Impressive
case to the State Department at Wash
ington.
Negotiations then began between the
governments OF the United States and
Great Britain. with a view to having
the rights of Americans respected
EXCHANGED ha
difficulties and more difficulties. for
after England was convinced that 1t
american children have their toys.
Germany became loath to deliver. She
wanted something in return for the
favor Of delivering the goods
Finally matters were arranged the
red tape having assumed the proper
tons OF a huge ball by that time. and
the goods were set down in Holland
Now. Santa Claus could not posi-
bly, get those toys across tho Atlantic
in his sieds, He could take care Of
had carried them across the. 5000 miles
OF |watety waste. Eut, ely.
there were mo ships .to carry them.
that sailed from Dutch ports especially,
and anyway there WAS need for ali
the cargo spase for other and more
important things. t-
GOODS LAND IN SHIP
but ARE NOT WELCOME
At last a little space was found in
the hold OF the good ship Nieuw AM
sterdam and the goods were stored
therein. FINALLY they landed safely on
the dock at New York.
They were not welcome. Butler
Bros. OF Chicago, large import
Ing house. was reported to have re-
fused to accept the goods. The agent
Of a society determined upon an alb
solute black list for anything German
said that the space occupied by the
toys should have been used to bring
Belgian goods. 1t is not time yet to
report the attitude of one to seyen-
year-old America.
But one thing stands out so far as
the government at Washington is
concerned: 1t has done its duty to its
citizens. 1t has ccomplished the task
II was importuned to undertake by
the American business men back in
1914 The incident Is closed, so far as
the State Department and the War
Trade Board are concerned. and the
ball OF tape is complete.
But is there. any policy of the War
Board or the State Department that
would countenance the bringing into
this country of Gcrman-made goods?"
was asked.
"Ot course not" was the reply.
those toys are American goods. They
were bought and paid for long before
the United States entered the war"