The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-15
Means Curtailment on Com
merce in NOn-EsSentialS.
Presidents Proclamation Puts
Shipping Under License.
GOES INTO EFFECT SATURDAY
Transporting Army to France
Needs All Available Ships.
Also Will Conserve Products OF
C.. 8. for Use by Americans.

Washington, Feb. 15.-By a new
proclamation today President Wilson
placed all exports to all countries un-
der license by the war trade board
after tomorrow.
The proclamation also applies the
license system to all imports and thus
places the entire foreign commerce OF
the country under the license system
of the war trade board.
1t il one of the steps of reducing
ocean carriage of nonessertials, to re-
lease ships for transportatino of
troops and war materials.
Issues Explanatory Statement.
TIE following explanatory statement
was issued by the war trade board:
The president has today issued two
procIanations which will become ef-
Cffe.t of these are to subject to con-
troll by license the entire foreign COM
merct. of the United States and from
and aftel February 16, 1918, no com
moditie- may be exported from TINS
country or imported into TINS country
except Under license.
THE president has heretofore Is
sued several proclamatfons controlhng
certain exports under provisions OF
Title VII of the espionage act, ana one
proclamation controlling importation
of certain commodities under pro-
visions of Section IL of the trading
with the enemy act The military
situation and the tonnage situation
have made increasingly apparent the
necessity of instituting a complete ana
thoro- going control of all our exports
and imports.
To Maintain Army in France.
The transportation of our armies to
France ard the maintenance of a con-
tinued flow of supplies and munitions
needed to maintain them in fighting
trim require the use of every ton OF
shfDping which can possibly be de-
voted TO these purposes. This demand
must be met and If it becomes neces-
sary to >urtaii our exports or imports,
these are measures w-lich are forced
upon US by the critical tonnage situa-
tion and the necessity of availing our
selves 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 a way
as to aid, as far as possible, those
countries to the south which have al
ways depended upon US; we must also
dispose of our surplus in such way
thai Germany and her allies will de-
rive no benefit therefrom; and we
must secure for ourselves in return
shippings and supplies urgently
needed.
Doesn't Mean an Embargo.
PRONUNCIATION of these two procla-
nations does not mean an embargo on
exports or a prohibition of imports
but places in hands of the president
power to regulate which he will exer-
else thru the war trade board and the
treasury department. This power will
be exercised with the single purpose
of winning the war and every effort
viii be made to avoid unnecessary in
reference with our foreign trade and
to impose upon our exporters and i'm
porters no restrictions except those in
vplved in the Accomplishment of def
mite and necessary objects.
AS heretofore, licenses for the ex-
port or import of coin bullion, cur
rency, evidences of deDt or of owner
snip of property and transfers of cred
1t, viii be issued by the treasury de-
partment; licenses for all other ex-
ports ana imports including merchan-
disc hunkers, ships supplies, etc, will
De issued by the war trade board"