New-York tribune., 1918-02-01
Supplies for Allies Delayed;
Retaliation May Be
Extended
Pro-Cerrnans Back
Of Madrid $ Action
Coal for Ships Can Be
Withheld, Also Food
From America

WASHINGTON, Jan, -. Qui,k re-
.sl...or, measures wero forecast here
to-n;eat as the answef @ ne United
states and the Allies % snain'S inter-
ference with thc shipmen. o goods
across hc- fron' - into France, III
fact. certain 81 81 ships now in
american ports reeiv . sail arr being
ac,d W pending olear-n~ q the stu
alton. alhouea ,hc Wa ;ssde board
IN formal statement tonight denied
nat vessels Unacr The Spanish flag
generally vere beng sept in port,
The American sovcrnmcn. i par
ticularly concerned n the situation be-
cause e. large orders placed in Spain
by Gene-al Pershins for supplies for
the American army. /. holds, too, the
chief weapon 20 force lifting OF an
embargo placed hy Spain, since Spain
draws hesY iv on me United States
Tor foodstuss
War Trades Statement
The Var Trade Board, which issues
sxpors licenses and licenses for bunker
coal. IN SIS .atemsat said;
"it is not correct that Spanish
ships arc being generally held up, by
means o< refusing bunkers or other
wise.
1T is expected further cleaances
VII be granted. Each case is dealt
with ou lis own facts. and in few
cases bunber licenses have been
v'.hheld, IS where a ship has been
'aden IN Nhcie or IN part with com
mod;tes IS to wSich expert licenses
could 10, be allowed under tho
noilcy o. t,ie Var Trade Beard"
no CONNER other than this stats
neAt was to be lad officially Mt the
ar trade boalj effices concerning the
Spanish situation. Allied officials have
bee g'Fen no end of perplexity bv
spa.a. Although ~Uot so situated
eeograpnicaily rs to ship supplied
readily INTO Germany. charges have
oeen made that goeds from Spanish
Aoroceo have gone through the Swiss
port OF entry III france into Switzer-
and thence INTO Germany.
thargcs also have been made that
,ne German SPY system has used wire
less equipment in Spain to communi-
cate with the Central Powers.
considerable element in the Span.
Isn government, 1t - we'll known. ia
uermaH IN lts leanings. and officials
m as iagton express no hesitation
u htlmat'ng that this element is in a
rrass rarse measure responsible for the
rieseh' trouble The official reason
S.seR Ter the blocking of General
.erShines orders is said to be that
sne spanish railroad system has
- - Yo"N and tAet it is Impossible
70 name" goods destined for France.
Al, ihsougn tneir control of bunker coal
sne Aiiiea are III position to stop not
only the shipment of goods to Sna;n
from the Allied countries. but from
neutrals as we'll. Conseouentlv they
arc II position to bring powerful
pressure to bear to insure fair treat.
mem in tho panish markets.
Exchange Rates A Factor
rnJ ustu.ent OF foreign exchange rates
,rh;1 PAIN - remove the premium
NhiVh American business men are nav
'ns now in commercial transactions
N.Y. mat country, Is another problem
Nailing to be solved. 1t will be one of
me inanclal questions 10 be consid- :
yrca p, by Secretary McAdoo and Lord
NeSau'Hg when the new British Ampas-
saaor reaches Washington.
- reasury Department officials have
"eeh worried lately by the failnre Of
me spanish exchange rate 70 decrease
~ ~ spi'e OF the fact that the balance
o. 'rade amounts to $50 oSo.7o5 in
mfuerlca ,nor.l favor for the first eleven
mon'Hs ,b' Of 1917. the latest figures avail.
anie. "r5' On November 30. the peseta
Won. NY worth s.193, cost s.242S ir
NsM Sna' ORR for transfer by cable t,