The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-16
IEXP0 i
IMPORTS TO
4. !. i. B: ]: n 5 j !,
Strict Accounting Win be Kept Of
Americas Foreign Trade
!, Henceforth
MUST CUT. DOWN TRAFFIC
Every Facility Needed for Trans
port Of Troopasand Supplies,
Says Wilson
MUST CUT DOWN TRAFFIC

port o1 ,900 supplies,
Says Wilson
Washington, D. C.,E:Feb. 16.-All for
eign trade of the United States-ea
ports and lmports-was put under lie
ense Friday by Pres. Wilson as
part OF a general program of the Am
erican and alliedSgOvernments for re
leasing ships to *transport trops ant
supplies to Europe. e. IL
The less essential exports and i'm
ports will be reduced to minimum
and materials regarded as necessar,
will be transported by the shortes
hauls possible, The allies are WORKING
in close cooperation with the United
States and the trade routes of tho
world in many instances will be shift
ed to bring the most economical oper
alton Of tonnage.
49, Foreign, Trade Cut.
The allies already have cut their
foreign trade sharply. but will make
further reductions as a part of the
general plan. American representa-
tiyes sitting in London will lwork with
allied representatives. in eliminating
and re-arranging ocean commerce to
free ships for war service.
Licensing OF American exports and
imports will be handled to the war
trade board, which has created a spec.
ial contraband committee with final
powers in deciding the countrys 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.
80 To Affect Balances.
Americas trade balances will be at.
fiected considerably. by redistributing
commerce and one of the concerns of
the government is to maintain them
on as favorable a basis as possible.
Control over exports and imports
will be used to bargain with both the
allies and the neutrals for products
the United States must have to prose.
cute the war.
"A war trade board statement today
outlining the governments plans
said: a5@y, 4 Il J.
Two ProcIamAtions
The president has today issued two
proclamations which will become ef-
fective tomorrow. The purpose and
effect Of these proclamstions are to
subject to control by license the en-
tire foreign commerce otlthe United
States and from and after February
16, 1918, no commodities, may be ex-
ported from this country or imported
into this country except under license.
THE president has heretofore is
sued several proclamati0ns controlling
certain exports under the espionage
act, and one proclamation controlling
the importation of certain coInmod-
tiles under the trading withSthe enemy
act. The military situation and the
tonnage situation have made increas- /
ingly apparent the necessity Of insti-
tuting complete and thorough going |
control Of all our exparts and imports.
''The transportation Of our armies
to France and the maintenance of a
continued flow of the supplies and
needed to maintain them In
fighting trim require the use Of every
ton Of shipping which can possible I'D
devoted to these. purposes. This de-
mand must be met, and II It becomes
necessary to curtail our exports or I'm
ports, these are measures which are
forced upon US by critical tonnage
situation and the necessity Of availing
Of every possible means Of
our armies In France.
Limitation Necessary.
"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 always depended upon us. We
nuts also dispose Of our surplus in
such a way that Germany and her al
lies will derive no benefit therefrom;
and we must secure for ourselves in
return shipping and supplies urgently
needed. 81. H,
1.-THE PRONUNCIATION of these two pro.
does not mean an embargo
on exports or q prohibition of i'm
ports, but places in the hands OF the
president the power to regulate which
he will exercise through the war trade I